PLANTS AS BIOINDICATORS OF AIR-POLLUTION AT THE SERRA-DO-MAR NEAR THEINDUSTRIAL-COMPLEX OF CUBATAO, BRAZIL

As a result of air pollutant emissions from the industrial complex of Cubatao, Brazil, the Atlantic Forest vegetation of the Serra do Mar sh ows severe and widespread damage. In order to obtain information on th e type, intensity and causes of the vegetation damage, bioindicator pl ants were exposed at different distances,from the emission sources. Ai r-pollution-induced effects were evaluated by estimation of visible in jury symptoms and chemical analyses of leaves. The results prove the o ccurrence of phytotoxic levels of photochemical oxidants in wide parts of the research area. Intense fluoride-induced damage and high leaf f luoride concentrations were found in a valley downwind of fertiliser i ndustries. The study showed that some of the traditional standardised bioindication methods from temperate climates may be successfully, emp loyed in biomonitoring programmes in tropical and subtropical regions.