Ficus religiosa Tree Leaves as Bioindicators of Heavy Metals in Gorakhpur City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Objective: The present work investigates the metal uptake of the plant Ficus religiosa leaves collected from nine experimental sites in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: The concentration of lead in leaves was determined with help of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The level of the lead in leaves of Ficus religiosa was much higher than the limits recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The bioaccumulation of lead was highest in site 2 (Gayatri nagar) i.e. 14.1 mg kg^-1 dry weight of F. religiosa. To determine the relationship between the lead concentration in leaves and traffic density the Pearson’s correlation analysis has been performed. Conclusion: The value of Pearson’s correlation coefficient was positive indicating that the traffic density plays an important role in the lead pollution in plants.