Study of the Synergic Action of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides from Environmental Upon Urban Tree Species

Nitrogen and sulphur pollution in areas characterized by heavy traffic is an important challenge for all those invested with responsibilities in local The identification of tree species used in urban areas as ornamental trees, that have particular behaviour against different heavy metal pollution is of great importance The aim of our study was to quantify the sulphur and nitrogen accumulation in tree species from a heavy traffic area of Cluj - Napoca, Aurel Vlaicu street, in order to emphasize their synergic action with not desirable effects upon environment. The leave samples were collected weekly during spring and summer of 2010, sulfur and nitrogen were detemined in the Laboratories of the Department of Environmental and Plant Protection from the Faculty of Agriculture of the UASVM Cluj - Napoca, with Perkin - Elmer Atomic Absorption Spectrometer with flame and graphite furnace, Analyst 800. Sulphur and nitrogen accumulations recorded the biggest values in Betula pendula, and smallest in Aesculum hippocastanum. The strong interaction betwen the concentration of the nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide from the environemntal air and sulphur and nitrogen concentrations in Betula pendula leaves (R = 0.997) demonstrate their synergic action.