Investigation on injury to plants from air pollution in the Los Angeles area

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1952 · Plant Physiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.27.1.18· OSTI ID:6474193

Haagen-Smit, A J; Darley, E F; Zaitlin, M; Hull, H; Noble, W

Spinach, beet, endive, oat, and alfalfa plants were used for the determination of crop damaging pollutants in the air of metropolitan Los Angeles. The catalytic oxidation of the olefins with NO/sub 2/ under the influence of sunlight produces oxidation products very similar to those produced by ozone. In the plant fumigations with oxidation products of olefins, lachrymatory effects were often observed. These investigations demonstrate the utility of plants in analyzing air pollutants. They further show for the first time that hydrocarbons, normally harmless air pollutants of organic nature, can cause severe damage through their reaction with substances know to be in the air. In this way these experiments have contributed to a better understanding of the smog problem.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena
• OSTI ID: 6474193
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 27:1; ISSN PLPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALIFORNIA
CROPS
FEDERAL REGION IX
GROWTH
INHIBITION
INJURIES
LOS ANGELES
NORTH AMERICA
OZONE
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SMOG
USA