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Re: Biology Question on Trees and Polution
In article <3kkbro$e3s@riscsm.scripps.edu>, <anthonyp@scripps.edu> wrote:
>
>Thanks for the citation...always a help.
>I'm not in this field, but it seems to me what you are saying is that, as
>part of the process of transpiration, trees and other plants will carry
>hydrocarbons disolved in the ground water into the tree, and then it will
>blow off in to the air.
>Is it therefore correct to say that trees are only responsible for moving
>the hydrocarbons from the soil to the air? That is, they do not *create*
>any of these things? If so, then the question really is, how did the
>hydrocarbons such as dioxins get into the ground?
Trees are loaded with hydrocarbons which they make themselves. A number
of solvents, such as DMSO, are by-products of the forest products industry.
Unless you live in coal country or on top of a chemical waste dump, there
won't be much hydrocarbons in the soil.
>I'm sure Mr. Reagan would blame the ground-hogs. and that Mr Thorson
>would believe him.
And if the Natural Resources Defense Council said Rush Limbaugh emits 10%
of the methane going into the atmosphere, I'm sure anthonyp would send
them $15 to do something about it.
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