Accumulation of heavy metals in the leaves of different tree species and its association with the levels of atmospheric PM-bond heavy metals in Isfahan.

This study aimed to biomonitor air pollution by measuring heavy metals (HMs) accumulation levels in the leaves of common urban trees, , L., L. and in different regions of Isfahan. Their association with the levels of PM and PM-bond HMs was also investigated. PM were collected on a glass-fiber filter and measured by gravimetric method. The HM contents of the PM and tree leaves were extracted and analyzed by ICP-OES. The average PM concentrations in ambient air of all areas varied from 52.34 to 103.96 μg/m. The mean HMs levels in the leaves were in the following orderZn(31.2) > Cu(11.04) > Pb(4.38) > Ni(4.01) > Cr(3.03) > Co(0.61) > Cd(0.04) (μg/g). The highest level of HMs was detected in the leaves of L followed by L. and . There was a significant correlation between the amounts of Pb and Cu in tree leaves and those in ambient PM ( value ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, tree leaves can be used as a suitable bioindicator in the evaluation of air pollution. L. compared to the other species can be confidently used for green space development.