Green Thumb Conundrums: NYC hearts smog?

I've heard that the "smog" in NYC actually helps plants and vegetables grow better. Is there any truth to this, or is it one of those things New Yorkers say to make themselves feel better, like "We have the best drinking water in the country"?

-Sarah from Astoria, NY

Hello, Sarah!

I'm sorry to burst your Big Apple bubble, but this is just wishful thinking. I'll start by blowing your mind and totally turning the question around: Do plants affect the air quality in polluted cities?

Trees planted in urban areas have actually been proven to reduce air pollution by doing what they do naturally, which is filter the air. Plants suck in carbon dioxide (along with the pollution) and release clean oxygen back into the environment. Woohoo, new clean air! But the flipside of all this is that the plant is sucking in polluted carbon dioxide. And that pollution has gotta end up somewhere...

Toxins pulled in from air, water and soil can eventually be transferred to the leaves and fruit of the plant. All plants are affected differently: Tomatoes, for example, harbor toxins in their leaves and not in their fruit, so you're safe if you're only eating the tomatoes and not the leaves like a weirdo.

Trees planted along the streets of NYC are actually chosen for their high rate of filtration. High filtering trees help clean the air better, but they also have a strong tolerance for pollution so they can survive the tough NYC air conditions. To learn more about trees planted in NYC, check out the Million Trees Initiative- you can request a tree to be planted on your block!

So, sorry Sarah... your New York City garden does not like the smog. But hey, at least you don't live in super-smoggy Los Angeles!

xoxo,
Martina

If anyone has a specific plant they're growing and would like to know how pollution is affecting it, comment below and I'll find the answer!

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Comments

[Mary Cordaro]

Martina, are you ONLY growing food that is not affected by toxicity from air pollution? If so, could we consider your "Growing on the farm so far" list a safe list for urban areas? I'm trying to find research on urban grown food that is safe to eat when grown in heavy smog, if that's possible. I live in LA, and it's pretty much everywhere here, not just near heavy traffic. Also, if you could point me towards any research you might have seen out there, (other than lead, which is well documented and easy to find) I'd be greatly appreciative. Thanks for all that you're doing! Mary