Plants Clean Air Inside Our Homes

[Guest guest]

Plants " Clean " Air Inside Our Homes

_http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4DMG/Plants/clean.htm_

(http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4DMG/Plants/clean.htm)

 

By Laura Pottorff, Cooperative Extension agent, horticulture, plant

pathology

Houseplants are the latest word in household cleaning.

Research now shows that houseplants play an important role in cleaning the

air we breath, both indoors and out.

Plants produce their own food through a process called photosynthesis. This

means they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen.

Photosynthesis " cleans " our air by absorbing carbon dioxide and by taking in

certain other pollutants, as well.

A team of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers

lead by Dr. Bill Wolverton tested the effect of fifteen house plants on three

pollutants known to be present in spacecrafts. These same three

pollutants--benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene--are present in homes

and office

buildings. They occur because they are emitted from furnishings, office

equipment and some building materials.

Under controlled conditions, in the NASA study, certain houseplants were

found to remove as much as 87 percent of indoor air pollutants within 24 hours.

Until recently, indoor air pollution was not considered a health threat;

most homes and public buildings leaked so much that air often was replaced

every

couple of hours. But during the 1970's, after energy shortages occurred,

more and more of us began to insulate our houses and office buildings to

conserve energy and lower heating and cooling costs. As a result, indoor air

might

linger for five hours or more allowing pollutants to accumulate.

Researchers are just beginning to understand how indoor pollutants such as

cigarette smoke, for example, can harm humans. Effects range from skin and eye

irritations to headaches and allergies. Some of the pollutants may be

carcinogenic. According to the NASA study, the plants listed below proved

effective

in removing certain indoor air pollutants.

 

Pollutant Source Plants that Remove Pollutant

Benzene Inks, oils, paints, plastics,

rubber, dyes, detergents,

gasoline, pharmaceutical,

tobacco smoke, synthetic fibers English Ivy, Dracaena marginata, Janet Craig,

Warneckei, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera Daisy, Peace lily Formaldehyde Foam

insulation, plywood, pressed-wood products, grocery bags, waxed paper, fire

retardants, adhesive binders in floor coverings, cigarette smoke, natural gas

Azalea, Philodendron, Spider plant, Golden Pothos, Bamboo palm, Corn plant,

Chrysanthemum, Mother-in-law's tongue Trichloroethylene Primarily used in the

metal degreasing and dry cleaning industries; also in printing inks, paints,

lacquers, varnishes, adhesives Gerbera Daisy, Chrysanthemum, Peace lily,

Warneckei, Dracaena marginata

The NASA researchers suggest that for the test plants to be effective " air

cleaners " it is necessary to use 1 potted plant per 100 square feet of home or

office space. Indeed, it would appear that plants have many useful

qualities, including one of making our indoor air cleaner to breath.*

*Information obtained from The Foliage For Clean Air Council and National

Academy of Sciences.