Can’t smell the roses?

Pollution has always been a health hazard for humans but also for insects.

A new study has found that the growing levels of air pollution has reduced the potency of flower fragrances by up to 90 percent compared to pre-industrial levels in the U.S.

Pollinators like bees and butterflies locate flowers by their fragrance. With more pollution in the air, pollinators will have a harder time locating flowers and feeding off of the nectar.

If insects can’t find flower food, the lack of insect movements will not pollinate other plant species.

Air pollution has decreased the distance flower scents travel in the wind from almost 3,600 feet when pollution was first recorded in the mid-19th century to an average of 700 feet in large cities.

Air pollution is worse on “code red” days during the summer.

One of the biggest pollutants is the ozone. Ozone is created when air filled with pollutants and sunlight reacts together.

When the scent molecules a flower creates bond with pollutants, the process breaks down the scent thus causing the scent not to travel far and potency level to drop.

Article from National Geographic: Scentless Spring? Flower Smells Blocked by Pollution