ABSTRACT- Air pollution is one of the severe problems facing the world today due to contineous changes in the environment resulting from human activities such as vehicular traffic and industries. Air pollution can directly affect plants via leaves or indirectly via soil acidification. Screening of plants for their sensitivity level to air pollutants is important because the sensitive plants can serve as bio-indicators and the tolerant plants as sink for controlling air pollution in urban and industrial areas.
Ascorbic acid is a natural de-toxicant which may prevent the damaging effect of air pollutants in plant tissues. The
level of this acid declines on pollutant exposure.
The present study indicated that different road side trees responded differently against air pollution due to automobile
exhaust. Ficus religiosa was found to be the most tolerant species while Santalum album and Aegle marmelose were found to be susceptible species.