Investigation on Injury to Plants from Air Pollution in the Los Angeles Area

Abstract

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.