Effect of air pollution on growth of bean sprouts using different colors of light

Air pollution has been a critical environmental issue that poses severe threats to the entire ecosystem. Existing studies mainly focus on the effects of air pollution on plants with leaves, particularly in terms of physiological, morphological, biochemical, and developmental processes in plants. However, how the reduced light intensity and quality resulted from air pollution impact the health of plants remains largely unexplored. Pollutants like smog and particulate matter, can reduce the amount and quality of light, which could potentially disrupt key growth process of plants. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, this study conducted five controlled experiments to reveal how air pollution, specifically in terms of light intensity and quality, affect plant growth. In this study, bean sprouts were selected as model plants because of their rapid growth and ease of cultivation. Different air pollution conditions were simulated using plastic and cloth covers with different colors (Blackout, Black, Red, gray and Uncovered). The length and germination percentage of the bean sprouts were monitored and measured for two weeks, from February 6th to February 19th in 2024. The results indicate that, different light intensity and quality could significantly impact plant growth and structural development, even for plants without leaves like bean sprouts. This study provides valuable insights into how air pollution may impact plant growth beyond traditional photosynthetic considerations. In their future work, the author will further investigate the specific mechanisms that influence the growth of bean sprouts. The author will also expand the study by testing other plant species and incorporating real-world air pollution factors.