A study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that the invasive Asian vine, kudzu, can be linked to poorer air quality.

Kudzu photo credit: National Park Service

Kudzu was introduced to the Southeastern United States in the late 19th century.  And since then, it’s spread like wildfire as far north as Pennsylvania and New York – out-competing other vegetation along the way.

Now, researchers at the University of Virginia have found that a chemical reaction between the plant and the air form ozone, which can cause lung problems.  In fact, researchers announced that the reaction with kudzu has lead to a 50 percent increase in the number of days on which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says ozone levels are unhealthy.  And that could be off-setting gains in air quality from vehicle pollution legislation.