Assessment of the Impact of Air Pollutants on the Photosynthetic Pigments of Litchi Plants in Dehradun City, Uttarakhand

Air pollution has indeed become one of the most significant concerns worldwide. Vehicular emissions are among the most outstanding sectors emitting many pollutants into the atmosphere. It is affecting human health and causing significant damage to plants. A comprehensive study of the effects of air pollution on plant physiology is required because of the growing danger it poses to ecosystems and human health. This research in Dehradun City, Uttarakhand, aims to evaluate the impact of air pollution on the photosynthetic pigments of Litchi plants (Litchi chinensis). The main focus of this research is to understand how common air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, affect photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophylls). Understanding the connection between plant health and air quality is crucial for promoting a healthy ecological balance in urban areas. This paper depicts the condition of the litchi plant in Dehradun City due to air pollution. We monitored Rajpur Road, ISBT, and one at the control site, i.e., Graphic Era Deemed University. The particulate matter (PM10), SOx, and NOx were observed to be high at ISBT, 148.34±31.39 μg.m-3, 12.96±5.79 ppm, 23.99±2.04 ppm, respectively, and lowest at the control site, 95.30±3.38μg.m-3, 9.87±1.70 ppm, 10.92±1.40 ppm, respectively. For the plant analysis, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content, and carotenoids were calculated. This study will shed light on the complex interplay between air quality and Litchi plant photosynthetic performance, which in turn informs solutions for environmentally responsible management.