Green Areas in an Urban Environment Minimize the Mutagenic Effects of Polluting Gases.

In different parts of the world, it is verified that green areas provide an improvement in the quality and well-being of the population in the environmental and psychological aspects. In this study, the micronucleus test is performed in Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt var. purpurea (TRAD-MCN) to detect the mutagenic potential of atmospheric gases in different situations of vehicular flow and urban green areas. Following the protocols for TRAD-MCN, the results obtained confirm the positive correlation between the intensity of vehicle traffic and the frequency of micronuclei. However, in regions with green areas, the results obtained with TRAD-MCN are inferior even with intense vehicular flow. The period of high temperatures and low relative humidity can potentiate the action of stressors on plant species used as a bioindicator. Because of the results found in this study, we can infer that green areas reduce the effects of polluting gases. We emphasize here the importance of preserving or creating parks and reserves in an urban environment to improve air quality and consequently the health of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]