Bougainvillea as a shield against urban air pollution: mechanism, tolerance assessment and phytoremediation
Bougainvillea: a shield against urban air pollution
Keywords:
Air Pollution Tolerance Index, Bougainvillea, Particulate matter, Phytoremediation, Ornamental Plants, Urban greeningAbstract
Metropolitan cities across the globe are grappling with deteriorating outdoor air quality driven by rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and intensifying vehicular traffic. Nature-based solutions, particularly phytoremediation through strategically deployed ornamental plants, offer a sustainable, economically viable, and visually enriching pathway to counteract this challenge. The present review systematically examines the physiological and morphological mechanisms that enable ornamental plants to intercept particulate matter and metabolize gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and ground-level ozone (O₃). The Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) is critically evaluated as a screening tool for selecting robust species suitable for urban green belts. Special focus is placed on Bougainvillea, a widely cultivated tropical ornamental plant, whose distinctive leaf surface morphology, high tolerance to drought, and documented capacity for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), NO₂, and particulate matter accumulation render it an exceptional candidate for urban phytoremediation. Evidence from metropolitan case studies spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Metro Manila, and Beijing is synthesized to highlight practical successes and context-specific constraints. Considerations regarding green infrastructure design, species selection, and future research priorities are also discussed. Collectively, this review reinforces the case for embedding ornamental phytoremediation into mainstream urban planning policies.
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