We know that this can have very negative effects on animals, as you can see from oil spills and discarded trash in the ocean. But what does pollution do to trees?
Pollution harms the environment. There’s no dancing around that fact. Unfortunately, as humans, our pollution rates have only grown in the past few centuries. In the last few decades, however, those rates have dramatically increased to alarming numbers. We know that this can have very negative effects on animals, as you can see from oil spills and discarded trash in the ocean. But what does pollution do to trees? Read on to find out.
Water Pollution
Trees, like any living thing, thrive partially because of water. When the water is contaminated, it can cause serious problems. For example, contaminated water can be taken in through the roots of plants and will work its way to parts that humans will eat. This can make us sick. If the pollution is bad enough, it can end up killing a tree entirely. Trees can actually be killed by too much mud or clay, as they won’t be able to soak up as much clean water, and they are essentially choked. Clean water is a necessity for trees.
Air Pollution
Many people are aware that trees can filter out pollutants in the air to make it better for us. And while that is true, trees cannot filter out every impurity. For example, sulfur dioxide is poisonous to them. It can dissolve their leaves, reduce growth, and make them more vulnerable to the elements. With no leaves, a tree will die, as it won’t be able to photosynthesize. Sulfur dioxide is usually released through the creation of ore mining, especially in regards to coal. Areas that see a lot of ore mining are usually surrounded by trees that have been killed by the fumes. Acid rain is also an issue. It can cause leaves and branches to deteriorate over time. It should be noted that the rates of these particular pollutants have gone down in recent years, but it’s certainly not enough to completely stop the destruction of trees.
If you need tree maintenance, call Nelson Tree Specialist today!
Nelson Tree Specialist provides specialty arborist services, tree crane services, tree care services, and dead tree removal services. We are well known for our top-notch skills and professionalism. All of our workers are experts at caring for a variety of tree species, so any tree that’s in your yard will be expertly treated or removed. We are members of the International Society of Arboriculture and we are considered certified arborists. We are also an accredited business through the Better Business Bureau and we have great reviews through Angie’s List. To find out how we can help your trees, whether they are exotic and strange or normal and plan, give us a call at (301) 854-2218 (Washington, D.C.) or (202) 909-5662 (Baltimore) or visit us online. For more interesting tree facts and tips, follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.