Ozone is perhaps the most important pollutant affecting the health and productivity of our forests in the northern temperate and mediterranean regions of the world. Tropospheric ozone air pollution is of great importance across the forests and native plant communities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These systems are often exposed to long-range transported air pollutants from the urban and industrial areas to the west of Pennsylvania. Understanding pollutant-induced effects on individual tree species, forest communities and ecosystem processes is essential for providing a scientific database for our National Ambient Air Quality Standards (please see Air Quality Monitoring within our site). Studies conducted within our Penn State laboratory have been focusing on determining the effects of ozone on the health and productivity of forest and native plant species indigenous to the eastern United States and within several countries central and southern Europe.

The Air Pollution and Plant Effects Program currently conducts research on the effects of ozone exposure (both ambient and elevated fumigation) on numerous plant and agronomic crop species. In addition, an extensive Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center is maintained by the program for extension education purpose.

In summary, the current objectives of the Penn State Air Pollution and Plant Effects Program are as follows:

• Enhance the current ozone monitoring network operated by and in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Air Quality by including rural and remote monitoring sites in North-central Pennsylvania.
• Utilize passive ozone monitoring technology to short term and seasonal variations in ozone concentrations in relation to topography.
• Determine effects of ambient ozone exposure to ozone sensitive native plant species.
• Examine links among ambient ozone exposure, local growth conditions, topography, and both visible and physiological plant effects.
• Provide real time ozone data to help educate and promote public awareness of air pollution effects to vegetation and human health.
• Current and Previous Projects
• BioIndicators and Symptoms