In recent years, the large scale urbanization, industrialisation and associated environmental alteration and its impact on biodiversity pose a threat to human existence through basic necessities, recreation and the ecological functions.

The present paper deals with the effect of polluted air on the chlorohyll content of mosses, namely Barbula consanguinea Jaeg., Ceratodon stenocarpus B.S.G. and Physcomitrium japonicum (Hedw.) Mitt. growing in the vicinity of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Unchahar, Rae Bareli.

There is growing interest in disentangling the health effects of spatially clustered social and physical environmental exposures and in exploring potential synergies among them, with particular attention directed to the combined effects of psychosocial stress and air pollution.

Decreasing exposure to airborne particulates was previously associated with reduced age-related decline in lung function. However, whether the benefit from improved air quality depends on genetic background is not known. Recent evidence points to the involvement of the genes p53 and p21 and of the cell cycle control gene cyclin D1 (CCND1) in the response of bronchial cells to air pollution.