After years of hard working, researchers at the University of North Carolina discovered precisely how trees play a role in air pollution. Trees produce and emit isoprene, a molecule which helps protect the leaves from oxygen damage. But, earlier in 2004, researchers found that isoprene was likely involved in the production of tiny matter which can get lodged on to your lungs and lead to asthma of lung cancer. It can also cause harm to other tissues along with the environment! The study that was conducted found that when isoprene was exposed to the sun, it reacts with human made nitrogen-oxides to create particulate matter. Isoprene's original intentions was to protect trees, but since it became present with nitrogen oxide, it has started to become a negative effect on health and the environmentNOS Themes:
- Role of motivation and curiosity
- Science is based on evidence
- Science is collaborative
Link to the article:
Jack Nermyr
I just read online that scientists are trying to solve this problem. They are going to try inhibiting an enzyme in the plant cells that they believe control the amount of isoperene emitted.
ReplyDeletehttp://cires.colorado.edu/news/features/03/pollutants.html