[DoughtyOne]

I don't consider pollen to be polution. When Reagan addressed this issue, I believe he was refering to some trees which produced a fair amount of oxygen and others which net drains on the oxygen supply.

[The Coopster]

I don't consider pollen to be polution.

Millions of allergy sufferers would disagree - as would the kind folks that came up with the term "pollen count", as part of the pollution index.

But everyone is entitled to their opinion, to be sure.

And I couldn't speak to what Reagan was actually referring to - though if he was referring to pollen, he would've been more widely understood, and also correct.

[seowulf]

When Reagan addressed this issue, I believe he was refering to some trees which produced a fair amount of oxygen and others which net drains on the oxygen supply.

Actually, oxygen is not a pollutant (even to envirowackos, yet). The trees produce volatile organic compounds (VOC's) many of which are regulated by the EPA when produced by industry, like solvents in paints and the like.