Effect of Carbon Monoxide On Lathyrus Bean Plants

This research project attempted to discover if there was lead in unleaded gasoline by exposing bean plants to the exhaust of a combustion engine. We wanted to see if the plants would absorb any lead and also if the exhaust had any effect on the height and mass of the bean plants. We inconclusively found that no lead was present in the bean plants exposed. The plants exposed to exhaust were shorter than the control group plants but contained more mass. We attributed the extra mass to thicker stalks. Since the experimental plants had exhaust blowing on them daily, it seems they built up thicker stalks to withstand more intense conditions.

Research Done By:

Christopher Dybash
Sterling Heights High School

Jessica Podlaseck
Fraser High School

X