Invasive Kudzu Plant Contributes to Elevated Ozone Levels, Study Says

Areas inundated with the invasive plant kudzu produce significantly higher levels of ozone than those that have not been invaded, with some U.S. areas experiencing as many as seven additional days when ozone levels exceed air quality standards, according to a new study. Kudzu, a fast-growing vine common in the southern U.S. since it was imported from Asia in the 19th century, contains two ingredients that are key in the production of ozone — nitric oxide and isoprene. In an air and soil study conducted in three areas of Madison County, Ga, researchers found that levels of nitric oxide were nearly twice as high in the soil of areas invaded by kudzu. Those elevated levels of nitric oxide — which is also produced by the burning of fossil fuels — then contribute to an increase in ozone levels, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. High levels of ozone pose a known health risk to children and individuals with respiratory problems.