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Yes, we should be concerned by eating plants that are grown in poor environmental conditions. Much like humans, plants and vegetables are a product of their environment. Air pollution can damage crops in many ways depending on several factors like type crop, growth stage, soil, weather conditions and pollutant concentrations. Elevated Ozone levels is also an issue with plant damage.  Long term exposure to Ozone in concentrations from 50-80 PPB can damage crops” (Grower, 2016)..

            “Cucumbers, onions, peas, tomatoes and watermelons are some of the vegetable crops which are most sensitive to ozone. White beans are particularly sensitive and are often used as an indicator crop. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can also damage plants, but more significantly, combinations of these pollutants with ozone can cause higher levels of injury. Some cruciferous crops and cucurbit crops are quite sensitive to sulfur dioxide. Other sensitive vegetable crops include onions, peas, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes” (Grower, 2016).
 

            Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), is another contaminate that is known to damage tomatoes. It causes a discoloration to the leaves and leaves a glazed appearance to the bottom side of the plants leaf. PAN causes injury to many other plants that we eat like spinach, lettuce, and beans. PAN is formed by a chemical reaction when nitrogen, oxides and other pollutants mix in the atmosphere and not a direct cause from pollution. Plants are very helpful in keeping our environment clean, but they can only do so much. The cleaner the environment, the safer the food supply is which has a direct correlation to healthy people.(Grower, 2016).