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 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: To