Title: Role of road side plantation in mitigating vehicular emission: a case study of district Swat, Pakistan

Authors: Sifatullah Sifatullah; Muhammad Nafees; Shahid Zaman Khan

Addresses: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Post Code 25120, Pakistan; Partners in Development Consulting Engineers, Bilal Market, Phase 1, Hayatabad, Post Code 25100, Peshawar, Pakistan ' Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Post Code 25120, Pakistan ' Partners in Development Consulting Engineers, Bilal Market, Phase 1, Hayatabad, Post Code 25100, Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract: The objective of this study was to know the effectiveness of different tree species used for road side plantation in mitigating air pollution. The road was divided into four zones, i.e., peaches, poplar, eucalyptus, pine rich and treeless zone. The ambient air was monitored periodically over a period of one year with three month intervals. The data was statistically analysed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means compared through least significant difference (LSD). Particulate matter (PM10) was high in treeless zone with an annual average value of 215.76 ± 33.33 µg/m³ against permissible limit of 120 ug/m³. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were within permissible limit. In terms of mitigating PM10, the observed sequence of tree species was: peach > poplar > pine > eucalyptus. For mitigation of CO, NO₂ and SO₂ gases, the observed sequence was: peach > pine > poplar > eucalyptus.

Keywords: vehicle emissions; air pollution; mitigation measures; road side plantation; environmental quality; quality standards; carbon monoxide; particulate matter; PM10; sulphur dioxide; SO2; nitrogen dioxide; NO2; tree species; peaches; poplar; eucalyptus; pine.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2014.062126

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2014 Vol.15 No.1, pp.36 - 47

Received: 22 Aug 2013
Accepted: 07 Nov 2013
Published online: 02 Jul 2014 *

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