Comparative Study of Ficus microcarpa L.f. and Nerium oleander L. as Bioindicators of Metal Pollutants in an Urban Area

Abstract

The ability of Ficus microcarpa L.f. with respect to bioindication of atmospheric metal pollutants has been studied and the data have been compared with the ability of Nerium oleander L. as bioindicator of atmospheric metal pollutants. Leaves were collected at six sampling sites (urban roads, urban parks and a rural area) around the city of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) every two months, from April
1998 to June 2000. The concentrations of Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg,
and Zn were measured in the leaves by using inductively coupled
plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). Differences were found in the
ability to retain some pollutants like Ba, Cu, Pb and Zn in the leaves
of the two plant species suggesting that N. oleander is a more
suitable bioindicator than F. microcarpa in Mediterranean urban
areas.