|
|
past feature
|
|
|
Trees May Harm
Environment
Researchers
at Texas A&M University have found
that oak trees can give off harmful
pollutants and may contribute to
greenhouse effects using mass
spectrometry.
Professor Renyi Zhang, an atmospheric
chemist, in the College of Geosciences is
studying one such substance, isoprene,
given off by oak trees that may lead to
increased ozone in our atmosphere.
Some species of trees do appear to produce
pollutants that hamper their own growth
while contributing to global climate
changes and causing harm to other life
forms, contends Zhang and Chemistry
Professor Simon North.
"Air pollution is probably one of the most
serious problems facing humankind in the
21st century," says Zhang, "and certainly,
much of that pollution results from human
activities. But most people are not aware
of the role played by chemical reactions
which change substances produced by
biogenic species into harmful airborne
pollutants.
Isoprene - C5H8 - is described as one of
these pollutants and is released by the
respiration of oak trees. It is the
second-most abundant naturally produced
hydrocarbon (after methane) in the
atmosphere. Isoprene facilitates ozone
production by a complex process, so
increased isoprene contributes to heating
of the air near the planet's surface, the
so-called "Greenhouse Effect.
Zhang's laboratory uses chemical
ionization mass spectrometry to study
isoprene using chemical ionization mass
spectrometry. "The isoprene chain reaction
is very complicated - in fact, it's been
studied for over 30 years without
significant results with regard to
fundamental details." His lab are seeking
to discover the direction in which
reaction pathways proceed. "If we can
fully understand the critical steps in the
reaction, maybe we can determine where
best to intervene in the process to keep
both our oak trees and ourselves
healthier."
|
|
|
|