Paper Title
Dust Arresting Capacity of Some Plants

Abstract
Air borne dust particles represent a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances of varying shape and size causing serious environmental hazards. Dust kicked up by heavy vehicles on highway cause air pollution and also affects human health causing allergic and respiratory diseases. Phenomenon of imprisonment of such dust pollutants by some plants atroad side on National Highway at Maharashtra was studied using leaves as experimentalmaterial. Plant species like Pongamia pinnata L. of family Fabaceae, Mangifera indica L. offamily Anacardiaceae, Annona squamosa L. of family Annonaceae, Alstonia scholaris L. offamily Apocynaceae and Calotropis procera of family Asclepiadaceae were selected for dustpollution studies. Dust holding capacity of leaves of above plants was analysed and its effecton chlorophyll content was further studied. Maximum deposition of dust was found to be inCalotropis procera and chlorophyll content was found to be minimum in the same plant.Hence this study pays attention on the role of plants as bio accumulator of dust on road side. Key wards - Dust Arresting Capacity, Chlorophyll Content, Leaves, Highway