BUGS CAUSE EMISSIONS?

It’s true! Well, not exactly. We all know that there are harmful emissions in the air. However, tharmful emissions are also eventually absorbed by trees. When these emissions are absorbed by trees, the trees hold them until they are released somehow. This is the study of biogenic sources.

Biogenic sources are natural sources like plants or trees, which once absorb a dangerous material like nuclear waste for example, can release a toxic emission.

Biogenic emissions account for 30 percent of all the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in urban areas in the eastern half of Texas. Emissions are estimated and taken into account the species of trees present, the density of their foliage, the temperature and solar radiation on the day in question, and the distribution of vegetation throughout the modeling domain.

Most plants emit some VOCs, but the largest emitters are oaks, pines, sweet gums, eucalypti, and poplars.

Monoterpenes are found in small reservoirs in the leaves or needles of plants, to ward off herbivores. When an insect feeds on the leaf, the monoterpenes are released and can adversely affect the insect’s health. Because the monoterpenes are always present in the leaves, their emission rate depends mostly on the temperature. Higher temperatures will evaporate larger amounts into the atmosphere.

There are a few other important organic compounds emitted by plants. Alcohols are often emitted by damaged vegetation; there is some evidence that these alcohols act as an antiseptic. A few recent studies suggest that alkenes are also emitted by some plants.

One way to help counter this effect is to plant a new tree once a week. This will help maintain a sustainable world.