IMPACT OF DUST POLLUTION FROM CEMENT PRODUCTION ON LEAF ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF SELECTED PLANT SPECIES IN OBAJANA CEMENT FACTORY SITE, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Production activities by cement factories pollute the atmosphere with cement dust. Studies have indicated that plants growing around cement factories absorb these pollutants through foliar surfaces. This study investigated the leaf epidermal responses of Abelmoschus esculentus, Zea mays, Mangifera indica and Carica papaya growing around Obajana cement factory (OCF) in Kogi state to cement dust pollution. Samples were collected 1-3km to the east, north and west axes of the factory. A total of 72 samples were collected from the vicinity of the factory site and prepared for microscopic observations following leaf maceration method. Control samples were collected from an agrarian community, a distance of about 47.5 km from the factory. Basic descriptive statistics revealed marked variations in stomatal complex type (SCT), trichomes density(TD), stomatal density (SD) and stomatal size (SS) of samples collected from the vicinity of the cement factory and samples collected from the control site.Abelmoschus esculentus was most impacted while Zea mays was least impacted by the cement dust pollution. The observed modifications in epidermal features expressed as decreased SS, increased TD and SD in plants growing around the cement factory are anatomical adaptations for survival in their cement dust laden environment. These alterations in anatomical features of the investigated species are majorly adaptations to prevent foliar damage by cement dust, thus could serve as bio indication of cement dust pollution. Keywords: Air pollution, cement dust, epidermal features, stomata density, trichome density