Air pollutants interact with and break down plant -
emitted scent molecules, which insect pollinators use to locate needed food, according to a team of researchers led by Penn State.
Methods: In this new approach, the team began with an atmospheric aerosol sample that contains thousands of
molecules formed in the reactions of ozone, a common atmospheric oxidant, with limonene, a
molecule emitted by various types of trees, which is responsible for the citrus
scent found walking among the orange trees.