Mother Nature's Secret Agent Cleaning Up Earth's Atmosphere

Scientists have discovered that Mother Nature has a previously unknown cleaning agent that scrubs away toxic air pollution, cleaning Earth's atmosphere.

Many studies have shown that trace gases and pollutants in the lowest level of our atmosphere break down naturally, thanks to molecules called hydroxyl (OH) radicals.

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But, the breakdown spews out ozone, itself a toxic pollutant and a greenhouse gas. (Get global warming facts.)

According to a report in National Geographic News, in China's heavily polluted Pearl River Delta, experts were stumped to find lots of OH radicals, but relatively small amounts of resulting ozone.

"It was a complete surprise to us (that), after such a long time of scientific research, such a big gap has been found," said study co-author Franz Rohrer, of the Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere in J|lich, Germany.

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Highly reactive OH radicals are continually recycled in the atmosphere through reactions with water vapor and nitric oxide, both naturally present in the air.

"Part of nature's self-cleaning mechanism, the reactions break down trace amounts of pollutants," Rohrer said. ut, when the radicals are recycled by nitric oxide, ozone is created.

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In the Pearl River region, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Guangzhou (Canton), OH radicals were more concentrated than in any other place measured by the team worldwide, Rohrer said.

Meanwhile, the delta's air contained relatively little ozone.

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This suggests the existence of another method of recycling OH radicals-one that occurs without nitric oxide.

"Such a process is so unexpected that scientists likely did not have the right tools with them at the time to measure it," Rohrer said.

The team, led by Rohrer's colleague Andreas Hofzumahaus, plan to test Chinese air samples in a simulation chamber in their laboratory.

If they can solve the puzzle, the yet unknown ingredient could have a positive impact on the global atmosphere, Rohrer added.

"You have the advantage that the harmful pollutants are degraded fast, but you don't have the misfortune that ozone is generated for it," he said. "You are gaining on both sides," he added.

Source-ANI
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