PEROXIDASES - USABLE MARKERS OF AIR-POLLUTION IN TREES FROM URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Air pollution induced-guaiacol peroxidase activity in leaves trees was verified in Turin on 530 plants, both evergreen and deciduous broadle af, without visible injuries and water stress. Throughout the year, by spectrophotometric analysis, peroxidase quantity in leaves of each pl ant was periodically analysed by assaying enzyme activity on leaf crud e extract. In all cases peroxidase activity of the trees in the urban environment was higher than those from the non-urban. The enzyme activ ity was also directly correlated with the intensification of road traf fic. These results provide evidence of the possibility to use peroxida se activity as a marker to edit maps of air quality. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.