Air pollution and agriculture are an inseparable pair. On the one hand, because many farm animals pollute the air themselves, on the other, because air pollution has impact on the size of crops and food safety. So, how does air pollution affect agriculture? Read more to find out.
Air pollution and crops
Air pollution affects plants in many ways. For instance, poor air quality leads to smaller crops – it is estimated that it can even cut their size in half. It is so, because the toxic chemicals in air damage the stomata – the pores on leaves – which results in slower photosynthesis, thus lesser crops.
Additionally, air pollution leads to bigger ozone hole. As a consequence, ultraviolet light damages the plants, preventing them from growing properly and again decelerating their photosynthesis.
Moreover, the impact of air pollution on agriculture might be observed through other types of pollution. For example, falling toxic particles which are a direct consequence of poor air quality, will contaminate the ground. As a consequence, the crops will draw these toxic chemicals from the soil and thus suffer further damage.
Air pollution and food
Agriculture activities are often the cause behind air pollution. Breeding farm animals leads to worse air quality, and poor air quality leads to food dangers – both for the meat and for the plants.
The main concern here is the reduction of nutrient value of foods deriving from air-polluted areas. When the chemicals are absorbed into plants and animals, they often react with the nutrients, thus reducing their number.
Additionally, air pollution in agriculture may cause a lot of damage to our health. The pollutants don’t disappear themselves – they remain in the meat and in the plants. This means that in the end, we consume them. As a consequence, we might suffer from health problems – often not visible at first sight. Air pollution has a lot of effects on the immune system, and food contamination has the same consequences – after all, it is all about the same pollutants.
The takeaway
The effects of air pollution on agriculture and food safety are enormous. Poor air quality leads to smaller crops, less nutritious food and dangerous health issues. Thus, it is important to improve the quality of air in agricultural regions.
You might also want to read: How Does Air Pollution Affect Animals? 6 Deadly Effects