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Published online 18 August 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.1046
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Trees eat pollution products
Leaves can absorb organic nitrates and turn them into amino acids.
Forest canopies can suck up organic nitrogen compounds produced from pollutants and turn them into useful amino acids.
Paul Shepson and his colleagues at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, believe they are the first to show that trees can take in organic nitrates through their leaves and then process the nitrogen.
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This is good information. Is it also possible that the pollution may affect the life-time of trees or spread of trees in forests? or even CO2 absorption in leaves? Do we know if plants feel sick of pollution in the cities? Well, such things may also be worth studying, I feel. I am now also concerned, if plants grow in polluted enviroment and absorb such pollution produces then if human suppose eat those leaves in food, will it be harmful to the body?
This is very valuable inforation for people who destroy the trees. I said to the people,they grow the plants and make the environment free from pollution. dr. pradip salve PhD (toxicology and pharmacology)
Humans fail to understand the beauty of NATURE, created by superpowers. Plants have been mute spectators of the nuisance we have inflicted on them. Surprisingly and unlike humans, they firstly, do not grumble and secondly, they have cleansing mechanism in them. More importantly, if the toxicity exceeds tolerance limits, the species get transformed into new variants gradually culminating into new species more resistant than the parent. However, plants like humans are indeed sensitive and enjoy music. When their response is positive to soothing tunes, they enhance their yield as well. Penguin publication - Secret life of Plants - is indeed an eye opener to many.