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DETECTION OF HEAVY METALS IN LEAVES OF MELIA AZEDARACH AND EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA AS BIOMONITRING TOOLS IN THE REGION OF QUETTA VALLEY

MANZOOR IQBAL KHATTAK^1* AND RUKHSANA JABEEN

Abstract: The concentrations of heavy metals viz., Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in leaves of two tree species, Melia azedarach  and Eucalyptus citriodora (Safeda) from different sampling sites at urban areas in Quetta city , were measured. Correlation between elements and the use of tree leaves as indicators of environmental pollution was investigated. The results show that the higher concentrations of heavy metals in Eucalyptus leaves of the areas of the Hudda, Barori and Mashraqi by Pass and in the areas with dense transportation activities are in function. So this preliminary study presents scientific basis to establish the applicability of the tree leaves as bio-monitoring tool for the rapid evaluation of the pollution status in the Quetta city by analyzing heavy metals concentration in the tree leaves

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¹Department Chemistry, Balochistan University, Quetta, Pakistan

²Department of Plant Sciences SBKW University, Quetta, Pakistan

^*Corresponding authors’ e-mail: manzoor_iqbal@yahoo.com