Plant Metabolites under Environmental Stress: Mechanisms, Responses, and Adaptation Strategies. Nivas M. Desai, Manasi Patil, Umesh R. Pawar (Eds.) © 2023 Apple Academic Press, Inc. Co-published with CRC Press (Taylor & Francis) Dust Pollution and Plants: A Case Study of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India NITESH JOSHI Rizvi College of Arts Science and Commerce, Department of Botany, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, E-mail: niteshcjoshi@gmail.com CHAPTER 6 ABSTRACT This chapter is a review of literature mainly dealing with dust and plants with reference to Mumbai city. The use of plants to monitor dust in cities and their role in mitigating dust pollution is discussed. Plants ideal for selection in developing green belts in an urban region is discussed with a comprehensive approach of using a dust chamber. The characteristics useful in selecting plants in a city for reducing dust are enumerated as well as plants suitable as phytomonitors. 6.1 MUMBAI URBAN REGION AND POLLUTION Maharashtra is one of the most industrialized states, and its capital, Mumbai, is termed as the financial capital of India. Population-wise, Mumbai is one of the largest districts in the country. The population of Mumbai is 12.48 million as per the 2011 census and its Population Density is 39,446 per sq. km. Area-wise; it is the second smallest district in Maharashtra State. Area of Mumbai above sea level as per the development plan is 453.05 km 2 . Its maximum width is 17 km (east to west) and length is 42 km (north to south). The gardens and parks in the city take up to 73.67 hectares of area. Similarly, recreation grounds and playgrounds share 91.31 hectares and 69.81 hectares