Chlorophyll content of six tree species under influence of cement dust.

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyse the effect of a cement plant emmissions of dust on chlorophyll content of six tree species. Chlorophyll content was evaluated monthly during a year on trees growing at two different places: one under the influence of cement dust and the other 50 km far from this type of emmission. Pigments were extracted with dimethylsulphoxide and its concentration measured by spectrometry. Araucaria angustifolia, Mimosa scabrella, Ocotea puberula and Schinus terebinthifolius showed higher chlorophyll concentration at polluted environment in comparison to control, while Pinus taeda and Matayba elaeagnoides performed the inverse manner. Under dust environment, the highest values in Araucaria, Schinus and Ocotea were observed during Winter, while Pinus, Mimosa and Matayba did reach peak values in middle Spring. At the control environment, Araucaria and Mimosa showed uniform values during entire year, while Ocotea and Matayba showed peaks in middle Autumn and decreased values in Winter. Schinus performed reduced values in direction Winter-Spring and Pinus presented level increase in the same direction.