Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of selected trees in different parks of Metro Manila.

Abstract

Trees in urban greening help mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution, however, are indicated to be affected by air pollutants. This study assessed the degree of tolerance of plants through their Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Four biochemical parameters of the plant’s leaves were measured, namely relative water content (RWC), pH, total chlorophyll content (TCC), and ascorbic acid content (AAC) to determine the APTI. A total of 16 different tree species present in the three sampling sites, Manila Zoo (MZ), Arroceros Forest Park (AFP), and Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC), were measured. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in APTI values among the parks. Tree species tolerant (APTI = 30) to air pollution in the study areas were Gmelina arborea, Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica, Bauhinia variegata, Terminalia catappa, and Vitex parviflora. Planting of tolerant tree species can help mitigate the problem of air pollution in Metro Manila.