When power plants or car engines burn fossil fuels, they emit a lethal mixture of chemicals in the form of particulate air pollution. This fine dust that enters the lungs, proceeds to the bloodstream, liver, and brain contains a deadly mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hyrdrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic heavy metals. That is literally inhaling poison.

While trees have already been known to protect people from pollution, especially trees lined on sides of streets in high-traffic areas that capture 15 to 20 percent of particulates out of the air, leaves of trees have also been found to be ‘useful as biomarkers for pollution.’ They sense pollution and even indicate the level. This science of measurement is still at its infant stage, though.

A group of scientists at the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom have ascertained that street-level pollution can be monitored through the leaves of trees. The researchers ‘measured pollution based on magnetic signatures from tiny bits of iron in the particles.’ They discovered that the lime trees found all over Lancaster ‘gradually collected particles over a period of seven to 10 days, until they accurately reflected ambient levels of pollution.’

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Via Discovery Channel