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Removal of ozone from the atmosphere by soil and vegetation

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Abstract

OZONE is the principal constituent of the photochemical smog that plagues many cities in the United States. Produced by the action of sunlight on the hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen emitted by vehicles and industry, concentrations of ozone greater than 25×1011 molecules cm−3 (1×1011 molecules cm−3 =0.4 parts per hundred million = 8 µg m−3), used as evidence of photochemical smog1, have been observed in Los Angeles for more than two decades2. Because of lower air temperatures, less sunshine and fewer vehicles, photochemical pollution was considered unlikely to occur in Western Europe but concentrations indicative of photochemical smog have now been reported from Germany3, the Netherlands4,5 and southern England6,7 on calm, sunny days. High concentrations of ozone cause respiratory difficulties in humans8 and damage many plants9 including crops10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, PO Box 1106, New Haven, Connecticut, 06504

    N. C. TURNER, P. E. WAGGONER & S. RICH

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  1. N. C. TURNER
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  2. P. E. WAGGONER
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  3. S. RICH
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TURNER, N., WAGGONER, P. & RICH, S. Removal of ozone from the atmosphere by soil and vegetation. Nature 250, 486–489 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250486a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250486a0

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