Peroxidases: Usable markers of air pollutions in trees from urban environments

Air pollution induced-guaiacol peroxidase activity in leaves trees was verified in Turin on 530 plants, both evergreen and deciduous broadleaf, without visible injuries and water stress. Throughout the year, by spectrophotometric analysis, peroxidase quantity in leaves of each plant was periodically analysed by assaying enzyme activity on leaf crude extract. In all cases peroxidase activity of the trees in the urban environment was higher than those from the non-urban. The enzyme activity was also directly correlated with the intensification of road traffic. These results provide evidence of the possibility to use peroxidase activity as a marker to edit maps of air quality.