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Gassy Kudzu Choking South

Quick-spreading vine emitting greenhouse gas

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 4, 2007 8:10 PM CST

(Newser) – It's nicknamed "the vine that ate the South," but experts now warn that the fast-spreading invasive plant is choking more than just power lines, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Scientists have found that the plant emits ozone, making smog worse, leading to health problems—and speeding up climate change.

Most ground-level ozone pollution is thought to come from cars and power plants, but the new findings might now make Southern states step up efforts to control the voracious vine, especially since breathing in ozone can lead to health problems including emphysema, bronchitis and asthma. "Kudzu is bad, bad stuff,” said a pediatric cardiologist.

"It's the plant that ate the South," said Larry Rizzo, right, of the Missouri Department of Conservation, about the vines he and Dale Myers of Kansas City Power & Light Co. checked out. Kudzu's now feared... (KRT Photos)

Newt Hardie is working to rid as much of South Carolina of the invasive plant kudzu as he can. He is shown holding the crown of one plant that he removed to kill it at a patch in Columbia, South Carol (KRT Photos)

The kudzu vine has rapidly spread throughout the south and scientists fear that the plant's ozone-emitting properties could be a disaster for public health. (Flickr)

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Smog Bad for Your Appendix: Study

Researchers saw more cases of appendicitis on days with poor air quality

Calif. Town Is Nation's Smoggiest

Air above tiny Arvin is a magnet for pollutants

EPA to Toughen Smog Rules

Measure would be costly but yield huge health savings

Ozone Kills, Slowly: Study

High-level areas like LA face 50% increase in risk of death from respiratory illness

Heavy Smog Greets Olympians

Despite traffic restrictions, skies hazy as always

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

pollution • public health • smog • ozone • air pollution • kudzu

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Smog Bad for Your Appendix: Study

Researchers saw more cases of appendicitis on days with poor air quality

Calif. Town Is Nation's Smoggiest

Air above tiny Arvin is a magnet for pollutants

EPA to Toughen Smog Rules

Measure would be costly but yield huge health savings

Ozone Kills, Slowly: Study

High-level areas like LA face 50% increase in risk of death from respiratory illness

Heavy Smog Greets Olympians

Despite traffic restrictions, skies hazy as always

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Newser By Users

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