Pollution is destroying the natural scent of flowers
Evidence shows flowers are losing their sweet smell

 

The sweet smell of the countryside may soon be a thing of the past, according to new research published today on loveearth.com, the natural history website from BBC Worldwide.

 

Scientists have uncovered worrying evidence that air pollution appears to be physically breaking down the natural fragrances that flowers emit to attract insects.

 

Researchers from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in the US created a mathematical model showing what happens to the scents of wild flowers when exposed to four levels of pollution - finding that the greater the amount of pollutants in the air, the greater rate of destruction of the flower scents.

 

That means that pollution may also be preventing insects from finding flowering plants. With today's levels of pollution, bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects may not be able to smell flowers from a distance of over 200 metres, say the researchers.

 

Before the industrial revolution, they could smell flowers from at least a kilometre away. These findings could help explain why there has been a marked decline in the numbers of both pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in recent years.

 

 

Vicky Beercock