A study on the effect of cement dust pollution on certain physical and biological parameters of Sessamum indicum plant

Ariyalur, known as cement city is surrounded by cement factories and limestone mines. These act as the sources of dust and particulates in and around the living place. To know about the extent of dust pollution, a common plant sessamum indicum was found to be one of the plants which are higher in number. The chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content of the leaves have found to decrease in the leaves of the plant grown in areas exposed to dust when compared with control plant, grown in unpolluted areas. Similarly the other components such as calcium, sodium, manganese magnesium, zinc got increased in the affected plant sessamum indicum. Certain parameters such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannin, and lignin have got decreased in its quantity in case of affected plant sessamum indicum. It is clear that the cement dust affect certain biochemical components.