Title: Responses of the urban roadside trees to traffic environment

Authors: Han E Li, B.T. Li, S.F. Lan

Addresses: Department of Resource and Environment, Foshan University, 18 Jiangwan Yi Rd., Foshan, Guangdong, PR China. ' College of Forest, South China Agricultural University, Wushan, Tian he district, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, PR China. ' School of Life, South China Agricultural University, 14 Wenlong street #1004, Chancheng Foshan 528000, Guangdong Province, PR China

Abstract: Purpose: The study is understand the relation between urban roadside tree growth and the traffic environment and an improvement to the traffic environment by using urban roadside trees. Design/methodology/approach: Eight common urban roadside trees subjected to many pollutants from automobile emissions were selected for research. The comparatively pollution-free parks far from the traffic environment were used as a control. Findings: The nearer the sampling location is to the traffic environment, the higher is the absorption of Pb, Cd, and S; the higher, the electric conductivity; and the lower the pH value in the leaves and bark of urban trees.

Keywords: urban trees; roadside trees; heavy metals; lead; cadmium; sulphur; electric conductivity; pH value; stomata density; traffic environment; urban traffic; automotive emissions; vehicle emissions; environmental pollution; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2010.029958

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.12 No.1, pp.16 - 26

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

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