Accumulation of heavy metals in the leaves of Sorbus aucuparia L. in the urban environment (on the example of Orenburg)

In urban areas, trees play an essential role to cleanse the airborne toxic pollution in the environment. The species Sorbus aucuparia L. was studied as a biological indicator of toxic heavy metals pollution in the city of Orenburg, Russia. The impact of airborne pollution was assessed by the evaluation of morphometric parameters and the chemical analysis of leaves. The rowan leaves were collected in Orenburg in areas exposed to anthropogenic intervention of various degree. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe in leaf samples were compared. It was found that the concentration of heavy metals in plants growing in the city is higher than in the control samples and decreases in the order Cd ˃ Cu ˃ Pb ˃ Zn ˃ Fe. The biological monitoring can be used to study environmental pollution as an environmentally sustainable tool for environmental management in urban areas.