ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Phytoindication of the Ecogenotoxic Effects
of Vehicle Emissions Using Pollen Abortion Test
with Native Flora
Eva Gregušková1, Karol Mičieta2
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1Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Tatranská Javorina 7, SK-059 56, Slovakia
2Department of Botany, Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Révová 39, Bratislava 1, Slovakia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2013;22(4):1069-1076
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the rate of ecogenotoxicity caused by traffic emissions at sites in the vicinity
of roads and at sites near planned highway construction using a pollen grain abortion assay with higher
wild plant species. The relationship between pollen grain abortivity and distance from a road also was
assessed. The highest values were found at a distance of 30 m, where the prevailing wind direction was parallel
to the road. Wind blowing away from the road shifted this boundary to a distance of 350 m. The results
showed the highest genotoxicity at the “Ring road” site, where the frequency of abortive pollen grains was
4.05 times higher than at the control site, and at the “Dubná Skala” site, with induction factor 3.48. Based on
our results we can conclude that Chelidonium majus, Cichorium intybus, and Melilotus albus are suitable
species for the detection of genotoxicity in the environment.