Multidimensional assessment of air pollution
was carried out on trace metals in particulates, desert plant
parts and soil collected from the six sites to validate air
pollution tolerance index, translocation and bioaccumulation
factors. A map indicating the sampled sites was
superimposed on the Disper 5.2 software graphical interface
to track the particulate dispersion route during the
summer and winter seasons. This study showed site-wise
orientation of particulates dispersed in the ambient air.
Observations indicated the high concentrations of dispersed
coarse > fine > ultra-fine particulates in trace metals analyzed
from selected desert plants and in the soil especially
during winter than in the summer seasons. High air pollution
tolerance index was observed in the sequence of
Calatropis gigantean
>
Portulaca oleracea
>
Citrullus collocynthis
>
Rumex vesicarius
>
Bienertia sinuspersici
>
Tribulus terrestris
. Assessment of translocation and
bioaccumulation factors labeled these desert plants as
hyper-accumulators. The synergistic effect of the translocation
and bioaccumulation factor in the various plants and
the pollution levels for a given geographical location provides
insight management to mitigate air pollution and
landscape designers to grow tolerant species and protect
sensitive plants from air pollution.