ABSTRACT
Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless, highly reactive free radical gas. Its production as an industrial byproduct or vehicle pollutant has long been associated with harmful effects on animals, plants, and the environment. However, NO is also synthesized naturally with major sources being through soil microbial activity and lightning discharges, with a meaningful proportion from burning vegetation, which includes discharges from cigarette smoke (Leshem 2000). An important rapid reaction of NO is with atmospheric oxygen and ozone. The reaction has adverse environmental effects through reducing ozone in the stratosphere and through the condensation of the resulting nitrogen oxides to generate acid rain (Casiday and Frey 1998).
