Ozone is produced at the surface by photochemical oxidation of carbon dioxide, methane, and various volatile organic compounds when in the presence of nitrous oxides (which are typically produced by vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions). (View a map of surface ozone.) Normally, plants absorb ozone through their stomata, the small holes in their leaves. But during a heat wave, plants tend to close their stomata in order to decrease water loss. The drier the soil, the tighter the stomata close to help conserve water. When plants close those pores, however, it means they can absorb less ozone. That leads to a greater buildup of ozone in the air. Emberson and colleagues found that this loss of ozone absorption by plants resulted in an estimated 460 additional human deaths in the U.K. during the hot summer of 2006. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130722-plants-heat-wave-deaths-ozone-air-pollution-stomata-environment
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