Usage of biomonitor of lime tree (Tilia tomentosa) in monitoring heavy metal pollutions in high traffic areas

The airspace, especially with the teams in the outer parts, has become a character that threatens human conditions. Heavy metals, the concentrations of which are constantly increasing in the environment and can remain in nature for a long time without determination, pose a greate threat to living things. In addition, the determination of heavy metal concentration is very important because it causes bioaccumulation in the living structure. However, living things in areas with heavy traffic are exposed to exhaust fumes and this has a significant negative impact on the Health of living things. In our study, the regions with heavy traffic in Ankara were determined and the biomonitoring properties of linden trees grown in these regions were investigated. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Co, Zn, Ar, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cu and Mn elements were determined using ICP-MS device. The differences in the measurement results obtained were interpreted using the ANOVA test. According to the results, it was determined that the highest heavy metal values in soil, leaves, branches and flowers were in the areas with the highest traffic density. This shows that Tilia tomentosa has the potential to be used as a biomonitor in the determination of traffic induced pollution.