The aim of this study was to estimate the total amount of phenolic compounds of olive
trees leaves (Olea europaea L.) as Biomarker for the assessment of lead air pollution at
Banias area. Olive trees were selected as the predominant species in the
study area. The
samples were collected from 6 locations at different distances from the vicinity of the
Banias refinery (0.1, 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 10) Km. The dominated wind in the region is western -
southwesterly during the winter (March) and summer (September), The control was taken
from an area about 20 km from the refinery to the north-east (al-Qardahah rural).
The concentration of total phenolic compounds (TPC) during the summer was (45.6-70.85)
mg GAE/g dw and in the control (40.4) mg GAE/g dw, and during the winter the content
of TPC was (35.6-52.9) mg GAE/g dw and in the control (25.8) mg GAE/g dw. The
concentration of Lead (Pb) in unwashed leaves during the summer was (0.879 – 2.170)
ppm and in the control (0.005) ppm, whilst during the winter was (0.479-1.023) ppm and
in the control (0.00083) ppm. The results showed significant differences in the
concentration of total phenolic compounds and lead between sites (Anova test). High
concentration of total phenols and lead in the summer compared to values in winter at all
sites (t-test). The results also showed a negative correlation between the concentration of
total phenolic compounds and lead with the distance from the refinery of Banias. Finally,
The results showed that the TPC can be used as biomarker of lead air pollution in Banias
area.
