Magnetic and Chemical Testing in Plants, Road Dust and Soil, as Indicators of Atmospheric Pollution

Airborne particulate pollution, which contains heavy metals (HMs) among other contaminants, is associated with many health effects related to respiratory problems, such as cardiopulmonary lesions and systemic diffusion. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of HMs contamination using different plants and monitors, as well as to evaluate the relationship between HMs content and magnetic properties in leaves of different types of biomonitors. For analysis, 180 samples were taken from biomonitors; Cupressus lusitanica (Cupressaceae), Citrus (Rutaceae), and Ficus benjamina (Moraceae), and monitors (road dust, surface and, deep soil). Seven HMs were measured: Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe, V, and Zn in all samples. Specific susceptibility (χlf), and isothermal remanent magnetization curves (IRM) were assessed in biomonitors samples. The results revealed that the major biomonitor was C. lusitanica, which also showed the highest χlf (20.54 × 10^–8 m³/kg) and IRM (2.66 mAm²/kg). Additionally, given the low coercivity of the magnetic material found in the χlf and SIRM values, those magnetic properties can be used interchangeably to determine the magnetic minerals in the biomonitors studied. We conclude that the use of biomonitors and monitors presents a potential to be used as an alternative method for contaminant monitoring and the use of magnetic properties is feasible to measure air pollution.