Week 9 Final Pathfinder

Title
“How Does Air Pollution Affect Plant Life?”

Patricia C. Shepard
Research for the 21st Century
Fall Quarter 2007

Introduction
I believe that air pollution has a major affect on our plant life. I will need to research into the source of air pollution, and the dangerous effects it has on plant life in order to complete my project. The sources that I will be looking for are the pollutant impacts on plants. I believe that the information is current and not historical. The history of pollution, and more specifically “air pollution”, is not a mystery to many. The current impacts of this deadly issue are of more interest and guidance for my topic.

Topic Analysis

Academic Disciplines:

The subject areas that would contain information regarding pollution are as follows:
Ecology
Environmental
Biology
Geology

Key Term:

Atmosphere
Air Pollution
Flora
Fumes
Greenhouse Gases
Plant Life
Smog
Toxic Waste
Trees

Library of Congress Classification (LC) Areas:
S Agriculture
SB Plant Culture.
SD Forestry.
Q-Sciences
QK-Botany
QK750 Chemical Agents Affecting Plants
QK870 Phytochemistry

The key words for my concepts that helped me in this endeavor of my pathfinder are as follows; (Concept # 1- Pollution) “Atmosphere”, “Greenhouse Gases”, “Smog”, “Fumes”, Toxic Waste”, (Concept # 2 – Trees) “Old Growth”, “Foliage”, “Vegetation”, “Leaves”, (Concept # 3 – Plants) “Shrubbery”, “Plant Life”, “Flora”, “Undergrowth”, “Water”, and “Soil”. My combined concepts were as follows; “Pollution AND Foliage AND Plant Life”; “(Greenhouse Gases OR Toxic Waste) AND Vegetation AND Flora”; “Smog AND Trees AND Plants”. In using these concepts, the doorway to finding information regarding my topic (How does air pollution effect plant life?) opened up wide, and I had no problem finding the information that was required to successfully complete my assignment.

Best Reference Sources

Media and Policy Center Foundation
2125 Arizona Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 828-2966

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code 6205J
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460-0001
(202) 343-9410
http://www.epa.gov/


Statistics

United States. Department of Interior. Environmental Protection Agency. AirData. 05 Oct. 2007. 10 Nov. 2007. .

This resource provides an abundance of information available to any person in need of air quality reports for and state, county, or region. The resource is an interactive location allowing the user to input or click on the state of their choice. This allows the user to locate any of the United States or properties owned by the United States Government. In addition, the user can obtain information regarding the five contaminants recognized as contributors to air pollution. This location also provides definition and pragmatic information pertaining to the subjects provided by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Subject Encyclopedia

Kumar, Ashok. “Air Pollution”. Social Issues In America: An Encyclopedia. Ed. James Ciment. Armonk, NY: Sharpe Reference, 2006

This resource provides ample information regarding “Air Pollution”. The article gives definitions, examples, and statistics regarding the subject matter. The reader will have a better understanding of the differences of air pollution (indoor and outdoor), explanation of contaminants, and the affects of contaminates on living things. In addition, the article provides a history of air pollution and attempts at resolution and solutions to the topic. This information gives an academic approach to air pollution and will strengthen my pathfinder by offering the nations approach to resolve of air pollution.

General Encyclopedia

Engelking, Paul. "Pollution," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 10 Nov. 2007. < http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570933_1/Pollution.html>

Within this article, Paul Engelking, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Eugene, Oregon covers information regarding pollution to the Earth’s environment. This article highlights the interference of pollution in regards to the “human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of living organisms and their physical surroundings.” In addition Professor Paul Engelking talks of how he categorizes pollutants into two groups, those being biodegradable and nondegradable. This article also encompasses the impacts of pollution, the types of pollution, the history of pollution, and (last but not least) the process of controlling pollution. This article is very informative, and it brings awareness to the reader on the severity of pollution on the Earth’s environment as a whole.

Best Books

Landis, Wayne G., and Ming-Ho Yu. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Impacts of Chemicals upon Ecological Systems. Boca Raton, Fla.: Lewis Publishers, 1999.

The authors of this book (Landis G. Wayne, and Ming-Ho Yu) direct their emphasis on the impacts of pollution regarding the ecological system. The emphasis on the ecological system covers vast informational resources starting at the molecular level and continues on to the dynamics of the ecosystems. Some of the highlighted topics within this book are “Biodegradation, structure-activity relationships, atmospheric pollutants, and the effects of elemental pollutants on living systems.” The authors’ writings seem to be factual because the information obtained is based off of toxicity tests.

Best Periodical Articles

Darley, E.F. and J.T. Middleton. “Problems of Air Pollution In Plant Pathology”. Annual Review of Phytopathology. 4 (1996):103-118. ProQuest Direct. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. Seattle Central Community College Library. 05 Nov. 2007. .

The authotrs of this article are from the Department of Plant Pathology and the Air Pollution Research Cnetter at the University of California. The article they present is based on theknowledge that “Air quality affects plant growth and development. This article will provide information supporting my thesis and provdie information necessary to elevate the thinking process of theis subject matter. The article tends to be stuffiey in terminalology, but informative non-the-less. I The article continues to state the information we have regarding air pollution today was available to us many years ago.

Raloff, Janet. “Plants Seen As Unpredictable Carbon Sponge”. Science News. 157.12 (2000): 183. ProQuest Direct. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. Seattle Central Community College Library. 05 Nov. 2007. .

In an opposing point of view I wanted to provide an article that displayed how plants themselves have an ability to contribute to the air pollution problem. This article shows how plants actually depleted the air in the immediate area and contribute to the lessening of the much needed oxygen. Not only is it imperative to all living things having oxygen, but it promotes effective regeneration. The article provides data and research on land use issues. This will help my pathfinder in that I have given an alternated view to the approach and understanding necessary to tackle the topic at hand.

Schenden, Laurie K. “Greenhouse Maps Smog Effects On Plant Life”. Los Angeles Times. (1989): 14. ProQuest Direct. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. Seattle Central Community College Library. 05 Nov. 2007. .

This article is produced in an effort to portray to the reader the benefits of a “smog-free” greenhouse. The author is promoting the possibility of reproducing plant life that will benefit from smog-free environment instead of the same air humans breathe. This benefiting both the plant life and humans by being able to live longer and product productive oxygen for us to breath. Proof of the benefit was evident when a palm tree used in the experiment began to spot when it was realized it was in the smog rich environment. This article will assist my topic in that there is evidence of the negative effects of air pollution and the living items breathing the noxious fumes.

Best Internet Sources

Lisa Gardiner. “Air Pollution Affects Plants, Animals, and Environments” Windows to the Universe. 21 Feb. 2006. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR): University of Michigan. 10 Nov. 2007. .

This article was written by Lisa Gardiner. This site promotes the knowledge and understanding of the various pollutants and the various aspects of air pollutions. While the site has an annoying back page there are plenty of informational settings to allow the viewer to understand the affects and effects of pollution and whet can be done by us and everyone else. There are links to other sites and images to help the viewer. This site will assist in the sense of showing plenty of affects one may need in order to truly understand air pollution and the affects on plants.

Hales, Ruth Ann. “Air Pollution Affects Local Trees and Shrubs”. Denver County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener. 15 Jan. 2007. Colorado State University/Denver County Cooperative Extension. 10 Nov. 2007. .

This particular article was written by (Agent) Ruth Ann Hales from the “Horticulture” department of Colorado State University the Cooperative Extension. In this article she brings awareness to the reader of the devastating affects that air pollution has on trees and shrubs. She talks about documented studies regarding damages of plants in smog ridden areas. In addition, this site provides information to the viewer regarding Master Gardeners and lists facts regarding trees and shrubs. This site will be beneficial to my project for a point of view from a gardener’s experiences and trials with pollution.

Best Non-print Source

“Miracle Planet”. Patterns In The Air. Ambrose Video. (1989).
This resource will allow the viewer to see how five different elements contribute and generate issue of the planet. Geology courses will utilize its scientific approach to understanding the earth and what has happened with human involvement and encroachment. The series is older, but has prolific information regarding my topic.

Review of My Research Process

I would have to say, going into the process of this assignment I found it interesting, and not to mention a little hectic at times, but I was able to work through the stressful hurdles. The beginning stages of my research were a little rough around the edges, such as, my topic was pretty broad, and my key terms were not quite right. Once I narrowed my topic down, I found it easier to come up with key terms that would aid me in my research process, rather than putting up roadblocks for myself as I did my researching.

As I ventured through the internet doing research on my topic I found an abundance of information relating to “air pollution”, but some of it took me off the path of the effects it has on plant life. Several of the information results I obtained pertained to the cause of air pollution, and suggestions on how to reduce it. In advancing my search, I was able to find the exact information I needed for my topic. I found numerous articles within newspapers, magazines, books, and documented studies completed by Universities/Colleges within “Horticulture” departments. I was astonished to find out how drastic the whole ecosystem is affected by air pollution. Furthermore, I was just as astonished at how rapidly it is getting out of hand. I thought I knew quite a bit about air pollution, but I realized rather quickly I only knew a minuscule portion of the endless magnitude of information available.

In my opinion, the internet is a very valuable source to use in doing any type of research. Once a person learns how to navigate through the confines of the web, informational resources are just a click away, and it takes a few minutes and the information is right at hand for immediate use. I find it more convenient to have access to the internet at home (or anywhere you might be), than it is to locate a library and travel to and retrieve the information needed. There are many “pros” to using the internet as a place to do research, but there is also “cons” to it; those being not knowing for sure if all the information provided is documented truth or not, and when you go to a library, a person can usually count on the information within it to be documented truth.