Trees Staff Site Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
175 ISSN 2086-5953
PROTECTOR TREES: AGRICULTURE SHIELD FROM AIR POLLUTION
Nadita Zairina Suchesdian
1 1
Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, Bogor Agricultural University, Jl. Raya Darmaga, Bogor, West Java 16680, Indonesia
Email: hyuuganadita_jigokushoujoyahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Our concern about air pollution is essentially a reflection of the accumulating
evidence that air pollutants adversely affect the health and the welfare of human beings. Extensive
effects research has established that air pollutants affect the health of humans, animals, damage
vegetation and material, reduce visibility and solar radiation, and affect weather and climate.
A large number of food, forage, and ornamental crops as well as trees have been
identified to be damaged by air pollutants. The effects are in the form of leaf damage, stunting
growth, decreased size and yield of fruits, and wilting and destruction of flowers.
Keywords: Air Pollution, Vegetation, Trees.
1 INTRODUCTION
The term pollution is used to describe the admixture of any foreign substance which we
dislike with something pleasant or desirable. Atmospheric pollution, therefore, is an undesirable
substance mixed with the open air. Any objectionable gas in the air is atmospheric
pollution, whether it is harmful or merely unpleasant, but this definition does not apply only
to gases. The air frequently contains solid particles
or tarry droplets, less than about 10 μm in diameter, which continue in suspension for a long time. Since
any particulate matter is liable to cause trouble, these aerosols, as they are sometimes called, are all
atmospheric
pollution, irrespective
of their
chemical nature. Also, by general consent, the term atmospheric pollution is applied to larger particles,
when these are lifted into the air by the wind or emitted from a chimney. Although the largest
particles escape from the atmosphere relatively quickly by falling to the ground, they are capable of
causing damage and intense irritation. Finally, there is the risk of radioactive materials in the air, in
amounts sufficient to injure public health, whether directly or through selective absorption by food
plants and animals. Agriculture is on the receiving end of air
pollution. It accepts what is put out and it tries to make the best of it. Zimmerman 1950 explained
that plants are most sensitive in many respects to some chemicals and impurities than animals, but to
other animals are more sensitive. Plants can detect chemicals
in lower
concentrations in
the atmosphere than people do.
In any study of atmospheric contamination which causes injury to vegetation, sulfur dioxide is
usually given first consideration because of its well- known effects on plants and because it is often
present in greater amounts than other contaminants, arising as it does from the combustion of all fuels
and sulfide ores.. Even when sulfur dioxide is not the major contaminant or is not the cause of the
injury to the vegetation may be a useful index to the over-all contaminants. Other important atmospheric
contaminants which can cause injury to vegetation in particular places include hydrogen fluoride,
sulfur acid aerosols, and certain yet unidentified organic compounds.[4]
2 DESCRIPTION