A facility for the large‐scale exposure of plants to gaseous atmospheric pollutants

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Abstract
Summary: A large‐scale fumigation system is described for studying the effects of low concentrations of SO2, NO2, and O3 on herbaceous plants and small shrubs. The system is based on a commercially available small hemispherical glasshouse which can be adapted to provide a closed chamber with forced air ventilation. It is a scaled down version of earlier ‘Solardome’ designs and benefits from easier and less expensive control of pollutant gases. SO2 and NO2 are supplied from cylinders of diluted gases (∼1 %) while O3 is produced from oxygen using an ozone generator of the electric discharge type. Good control of gas flows and efficient air/gas mixing ensures high uniformity of pollutant gas concentrations. The good air circulation within the chambers maintains the temperatures in the domes near to ambient.