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Name: ike
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: GA
Country: N/A
Date: 1/9/2006

What affect does air pollution have on different plants?

This depends whether it is point source (nearby) or not, also the type of pollutant such as ozone.

The following should be helpful:


Anthony Brach Ph.D.

Dear Ike,

Air pollution is generally not good for plants. Different plant species will have different abilities to tolerate the bad effects of air pollution. In general, plants that are affected by moderate air pollution are not as strong, they grow poorly and they end up dying because of other problems. Air pollution affects many different parts of the plant either directly or indirectly. Obviously the leaves are directly affected. Less obvious are the effects on the soil. Pollutants will affect the nutrients the plant needs to grow. Plants react to air pollution in basically the same way that all organisms including ourselves react to air pollution.

Jim Tokuhisa, Ph.D.

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