Genetically modified plants can clean up polluted air

A rabbit gene has been introduced into conventional indoor plants, giving them the power to filter harmful air pollution.

Homes often accumulate small pollutants called volatile organic compounds , created by daily activities and home furnishings from smoking to furniture.

These substances tend to be ignored but are significant air pollutants, some substances, such as benzene and chloroform , can cause cancer.

To remove these pollutants, a team of scientists exploited the power of genetic engineering and mammalian ability to remove harmful substances using natural proteins.

It can decompose benzene and chloroform into harmless byproducts.

Known as 2E1 , protein is found in all mammals, including humans, but because it is found inside the liver and is produced by the liver to digest alcohol. If it stops there, it does not protect them from air pollution.

These genetically modified plants can be used to clean the home air.

Professor Stuart Strand, from the University of Washington, explained: We decided that this reaction should occur outside the body, such as inside a factory.

To achieve this, the scientists created a copy of the gene coding for 2E1 in rabbits and put it in ivy.

Therefore, each tree cell has been turned into a miniature plant2E1, each leaf is a green liver.

To check whether the air purification activities of these ivy trees were good, they placed them in glass tubes filled with pollutants in the family.

They found that within six days, chloroform almost disappeared completely, while benzene levels fell by three-quarters after eight days.

To compare the results, the scientists repeated such experiments with non-genetically modified plants and found that, in non-transgenic plants, the concentration of in vitro emissions did not change. during the test period.

The results are published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology.

Because the experimental conditions use a higher level of pollution than is common in the home, scientists believe that these genetically modified plants can be used to clean the home air.

Now they intend to aim at cleaning up other dangerous chemicals found in cigarette smoke and wooden floors.

Professor Strand explains: These are stable compounds, so it is difficult to remove them.

Even unmodified crops can play an important role in cleaning up other types of air pollution, and building living walls - walls covered with greenery, have been Recommended at air polluted schools in London to protect children.