Do House Plants Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Recently constructed homes and buildings that follow energy-efficient guidelines are tightly sealed. Many of the construction materials and interior design components such as carpeting and vinyl flooring are made with materials that emit toxic substances. Air purifiers are expensive to own and operate; studies have shown that house plants provide significant air cleaning as they raise the oxygen level indoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Significance
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In 1989, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) began to study ways to improve air quality in space stations. Their findings apply to sealed, insulated homes and buildings as well.
Function
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The studies by NASA tested 19 common houseplants and measured three common household air pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. These are typically found in foam insulation, particle board and manufactured paneling, synthetic countertops, plastic-coated wallpaper, paints, varnishes and cleaning products. Reduced air quality from trapped pollutants and poor ventilation is called "Sick Building Syndrome."
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Features
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Because houseplants grow naturally in the shady undergrowth of tropical environments, they perform photosynthesis especially well in low-light conditions. This efficiency means that they are able to process larger amounts of other gasses in the air, including toxic gasses, which they can absorb and remove from the air as they give off oxygen. Scientists found that some plants are better at filtering certain toxins than others. All plants tested had air-purifying capability.
Additional tests indicated a capacity for roots and soil microorganisms to also filter the air. Soil microorganisms were able to use air-borne pollutants as food sources, and this capacity increased the longer they were exposed to the substances.
Identification
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Certainly not all houseplants have been tested. Not all plants are efficient at cleaning the air, and not all pollutants can be removed by plants. However, scientists do confirm that the air-cleaning ability of plants makes them a valuable addition to indoor spaces.
Plants that were especially effective for formaldehyde are reed or bamboo palm, mother-in-law's tongue, warneck dracaena, peace lily or Mauna Loa, golden pothos and spider plants.
English ivy, gerbera daisies, chrysanthemums, Mauna Loa or peace lily, reed or bamboo palm and mother-in-law's tongue are most effective on benzyne.
Mauna Loa or peace lily, gerbera daisy, and reed or bamboo palm are best at removing trichloroethylene.
None of the plants tested could remove cigarette smoke from the air.
Potential
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Recommendations are to use plants in 6- to 8-inch pots. In a space of about 2,000 square feet, there should be 15 to 18 plants of this size. The houseplants tested are readily available in local nurseries throughout the United States. They require no elaborate growing conditions and are generally easy to maintain.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Heart leaf philodendron ©fletcher
