The Effects of Pollution on Trees
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Tree Damage
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Nearly all areas of the world have trees damaged from air pollution. The effects of pollution include leaf discoloration, damaged roots, weakened trees, tree death and damage to soil. Pollution decreases the tree's ability to use sunlight and robs the soil of nutrients in habitats from suburbs to forests. Industrial wastes and car emissions released into the atmosphere produce most tree pollutants.
Pollution Types
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Virtually all of the pollutants to trees and forests are airborne including fluorides, oxidants, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Sunlight reacts with oxidants to form tree pollutants, like ozone and PAN (peroxyl acetyl nitrate). The gas known as ozone forms in the atmosphere's upper layers and protects the earth from radiation, but it can also be present near the ground as a pollutant.
Most sulfur dioxide pollutants form when coal or oil is burned to produce electricity. It is also formed in the manufacture of products and in the extraction of ores. Fluorides are formed in processing aluminum ore and stone and in fertilizer production.
In neighborhoods lawn and garden chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides harm trees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Department found that winter de-icing of drives and sidewalks with salts such as calcium chloride also harm trees.
Acid rain, or more scientifically, acid deposition, is a condition caused by highly acidic pollutants from car emissions and coal and oil-burning plants entering the atmosphere to form pollution clouds. Acid rain can fall far away from the source of its pollutants.
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Effects on Trees
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The effects of pollutants on trees can cause the tree to weaken and die. Trees have less resistance to diseases and insects when pollutants enter their pores, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Department
Ozone near the ground interferes with photosynthesis by blocking sunlight. Robert Lalasz of the Nature Conservancy mentions that "Ground-level ozone reduces plants' ability to harness sunlight for growth, reducing forest and crop production throughout the eastern United States." Trees cannot effectively use sunlight to grow in some cases. In the upper atmosphere thinned ozone layers as well as the ozone hole harm trees by allowing too much ultraviolet light to reach them.
Acid rains form from a mixture of pollutants. The high acidic content robs nutrients from the soil, hindering the growth of trees. Acid rain causes leaf damage by wearing away protective leaf layers allowing insects and weather conditions damage the leaves. Acid rain can also damage roots, killing the tree.
Affected Areas
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The Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation found many instances of air pollution that were causing the death of forests. Air pollution and acid rains have affected North America, Asia and Europe. Trees in California and the Rocky Mountains have pollution damage. Ozone pollution in Los Angeles has killed some ponderosa and other pine species. Ozone has also affected white pine tree survival in Canada and the Eastern United States. Acid rains affect Eastern and Northeastern areas of the United States, portions of Canada and Eastern Europe. China has extensive air pollution from industrialization and car emissions.
Damage to trees and complete habitat destruction have occurred around the world. The red spruce species of Northeast United States show needle damage and loss. In the past 25 years only half of these species remain. In Central Europe silver firs, Norway pines, beech and oak trees are harmed or in danger. Germany has such extensive pollution in forest soils that the soils will no longer support tree growth.
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