The reaction of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) to manmade air pollution near enterprises and highways of the Orekhovo-Zuyevo urban district of the Moscow region was studied. The growth and development of 10–15-year-old pines were studied in terms of the state of auxiblasts and brachyblasts. The ambiguity of the reaction of Scots pine to atmospheric pollution has been noted, which manifests itself both in a decrease in growth in length and in a compensatory increase in it, while the thickness of the shoots does not show a dependence on the amount of growth. It was found that in heavily polluted habitats, the density of needles tends to increase to 3.1–4.1 pcs./cm2, and the degree of necrotic damage and shrinkage from 1/3 of the length to full increases to 43.2 and 61.5%, respectively. The average annual number of branches varies slightly. An analysis of the morphological characteristics of Scots pine (needle density on the shoot of the penultimate year, average lifespan, average annual circumference and length of growth of the main shoot and the number of lateral shoots) was carried out, which makes it possible to calculate the average level of technogenic air pollution in any region. A point assessment of the state of the environment is given based on the biometric parameters of Scots pine.

Keywords: atmospheric pollution, auxiblasts, bioindication, brachiblasts, density of needles, life expectancy of needles, pollutants, Scots pine