Teaching Air Pollution Effects on Plants
The Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center (Learning Center) at the Arboretum at Penn State University encompasses nearly 0.30 ha of open land on a knoll overlooking the 150 ha arboretum [1]. It is ideally situated downwind of air pollution sources located in the geographic area that stretches from Chicago across the Ohio River Valley and into western Pennsylvania. Onsite, a teaching pavilion accommodates up to 80 people and is used for presentations and general discussions. A bioindicator garden provides an outdoor learning lab where air pollution-sensitive plants are grown and monitored for injury symptoms. In addition, open-top chambers are used to demonstrate ozone effects on plants by using a charcoal filter to reduce ambient ozone levels. We also have a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), Bureau of Air Quality, Monitoring Station at the site that provides air quality and meteorological data on a real-time basis.