Abstract
A review of experimental observations about metabolic disturbances to plants is pertinent for elucidating the effects of air pollutants which do or may control the biosynthesis of pharmaceutically valuable components. The air pollutants discussed included sulfur dioxide, ozone, smog, nitrogen dioxide, and PAN. Ozone has been reported to damage the palisade cells of the leaf blade. Most efforts have been directed toward the study of smog, with its principal reactive components NO/sub 2/, O/sub 3/, and unsaturated olefins. NO/sub 2/ injures plants in proportion to the opening of the stomata by a slow depression of growth at concentrations above 0.5 ppM. Photosynthesis is depressed by PAN as shown by studies with chloroplasts of leaves of horticultural varieties of beans. Respiratory reactions can be inhibited by PAN and smog. Inhibition of the principal electron transfer systems within and outside of the dicarboxylic acid cycle will retard the rate of biosynthesis of secondary products. Reductions of photosynthetic components will reduce also the supply of primary substances for secondary biosynthesis. 30 references.
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