Impact of Air Pollution on Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Contents in Three Forest Reserves in Edo State, Nigeria

Evaluation of the contents levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and Carotenoid, which are essential plant compounds that convert light energy into chemical energy that powers the biosphere, was carried out in terms of their responses to ambient air pollution. This involved using ten species from three different locations (Ogba, UNIBEN and Saponba Forest Reserves) over a selected period of time. Results showed that Termilina catapa had the highest value of Chlorophyll-a content with a value of 36.49mg/100g in Ogba Forest Reserve while the lowest value was also in Terminilina catapa with a value of 0.55mg/100g in UNIBEN Forest Reserve. Chlorophyll-b content was highest in Tectona grandis in the Ogba Forest Reserve of a value of 84.66mg/100g and lowest with a value of 84.66mg/100g and the lowest with a value 4.15mg/100g in Nauclea diderrichi also in the Ogba Forest Reserve. Carotenoid (x+c) content was highest in Termilina catapa with a value of 36.49mg/100g and Lowest in UNIBEN Forest Reserve with a value of 0.55mg/100g. Results also showed variations in contents values tend to be far more of a negative variance than positive, which indicates environmental pollution, particularly air pollution is a major cause of biomarkers reduction in plants where UNIBEN Forest Reserve experienced the highest effect.