There’s a lot of talk about the effect of air pollution on our health, but rarely this topic is considered in relation to plants and animals. Did you know that harmful substances in the air impede photosynthesis, damage plant leaves and roots, block stomata, stunt growth, delay blooming and acidify soil? This leads to the destruction of plants, climate change and degradation of the natural environment.
Different plant species vary in terms of their vulnerability to air pollution. The most sensitive include mosses and lichens, which don’t have a natural protective wax layer. Certain fruit and vegetables are also sensitive to pollution (strawberries, watermelons, grapes, sunflowers, tomatoes, carrots, beetroot and maize).
Air pollution can cause soil contamination, which in turn reduces crop yields and quality, and so air quality analysis seems an important element of modern crop cultivation. It is for this exact reason that this parameter is measured in the T IoT LAB.