Green plants have long been regarded as the “lungs” of nature, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen, as well as reducing the amount of toxic and harmful gases in the air.
However, a group of scientists from the United States has recently discovered that plants can also become a potential source of pollution.
Scientists say that plants can also become a potential source of pollution. (Image credit: Getty Images).
By mapping emissions and measuring air concentrations in Los Angeles, researchers discovered fluctuations in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are precursors to particulate pollution and ozone, which can be generated by vegetation.
This advanced method allows for direct measurement of pollutants in the air at multiple frequencies per second, unlike previous mappings that only estimated emissions based on known sources or modeled the movement of pollutants.
Combining measurement results with high-resolution temperature models, the research team determined that VOC sources from plants, including compounds such as isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, contribute to about 60% of the potential formation of secondary organic aerosols at the beginning of summer.
This is defined as plant emissions, which will increase with rising temperatures and drought conditions. Researchers predict that this is an issue humanity needs to address as global temperatures rise.
Air pollution remains a serious health issue worldwide, despite efforts to reduce toxic emissions from transportation and industry.
Among them, fine particulate matter on the micrometer scale increases the risk of heart disease and low birth weight, while ozone in the air we breathe is linked to respiratory diseases and increased mortality rates.
The primary factor contributing to both types of health-harming materials is VOCs, through reactions with sunlight and the atmosphere.
Scientists believe this is a complex challenge, as green plants also play an important, even indispensable role in large cities, thanks to their ability to regulate air, cool the environment, and enhance urban aesthetics.
Plants themselves help maintain cooler temperatures and improve our health in various ways. Some can even remove VOCs from the air.
