Heavy Metal Levels in Pine (Pinus caribeae Morelet) Tree Barks as Indicators of Atmospheric Pollution Calabar Municipality, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Biomonitoring of the air quality in Calabar was carried out by analyzing barks from pine tree (Pinus caribeae Morelet). Barks were collected from trees along highways with heavy traffic; residential areas with low traffic and the control, and analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer for lead (Pb) and Manganese (Mn). The result showed the highest Pb level in the heavy traffic site U. J. Stadium by Calabar Road, 0.66± 02 mg/kg and lowest 0.01mg/kg in the control. Manganese was highest in the heavy traffic site, Stadium by Calabar Road 0.57± 0.02 mg/kg and lowest at the control 0.05± 0.01. The relatively low level of lead might be due to the unleaded petrol imported into the country

Keywords: Bio-monitoring, Emission, Toxicity, Contamination, Pine bark