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18 Indoor Air-filtering Plants Recommended by NASA

Air Filtering Plants

 

The average American spends 93% of their life indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Whether at home, work, or in an automobile, most of us spend the majority of our time in an enclosed environment.  This is problematic for many reasons.  The EPA’s Internal Air Study found that indoor concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.  People often attribute colds and flus to weather conditions, but in fact, we get colds and flus because we are indoors and are exposed to higher concentrations of airborne pollutants including cold and flu viruses.  Alternatively, being outside is highly linked to a better mood and a better outlook on life.

Even if we wanted to spend all of our time outdoors, the reality is that most of us have indoor jobs with little flexibility to spend much time outside of our cubicle.  While it is still important to get some daily outdoor exposure (the EPA recommends at least 5 minutes a day), adding plants to your indoor space can help purify your indoor environment. 

 

The History

During the late 1970s, when the energy crunch was being felt at both the gas pump and in heating and cooling costs, buildings were being designed to maximize energy efficiency to help alleviate spiraling energy costs.  Two of the design changes that improved energy efficiency included superinsulation and reduced fresh air exchange.  However, upon occupation of these buildings, the workers began to complain of various health problems such as itchy eyes, skin rashes, drowsiness, respiratory and sinus congestion, headaches, and other allergy-related symptoms.  It was determined that the airtight sealing of buildings contributed significantly to the worker’s health problems.  Similarly, synthetic building materials have been linked to numerous health complaints.  The office equipment and furnishings placed in these buildings are also a contributing factor because of the types of materials used in their manufacture and design.

Humans are another source of indoor air pollution, especially when living in a closed, poorly ventilated area.  This becomes apparent when a large number of people are present in a confined place such as an airplane for an extended period of time.

All of these factors collectively contribute to a phenomenon called, “sick building syndrome.”  The EPA estimated that approximately 30% of all new or remodeled buildings have varying degrees of indoor air pollution.  Energy-efficient buildings that are filled with modern furnishings and high-tech equipment off-gas hundreds of volatile organics which possibly interact with each other.  Even at concentrations below present detection limits, some of these chemicals and reactive byproducts may adversely affect inhabitants of these buildings.

Symptoms of “sick building syndrome” are minimal in naturally ventilated buildings, which contain the highest level of microorganisms.  On the other hand, the highest levels of symptoms are found in mechanically ventilated buildings containing low levels of microorganisms.

The Solution

The brilliant minds at NASA have been studying indoor air pollution problems associated with sealed space habitats for over four decades.  They found that a simple houseplant can combat indoor air pollution.  Man’s existence on Earth depends upon a life support system involving an intricate relationship with plants and their associated microorganisms.  The leaves, roots, soil, and associated microorganisms of plants aid in the removal of high concentrations of indoor air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, organic solvents/chemicals, pathogenic organisms/viruses/bacteria, and radon.  The plant absorbs these air pollutants and converts them into new plant tissue.

Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Whats In Our Air

Benzene

Benzene is a very commonly used solvent and is also present in many basic items including gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, rubber, detergents, pharmaceuticals and dyes.  Benzene has long been known to irritate the skin and eyes and has been shown to be mutagenic to bacterial cells.  Evidence also exists that benzene may be a contributing factor to chromosomal aberrations and leukemia in humans.  Repeated skin contact with benzene causes drying, inflammation, blistering, and dermatitis. Acute inhalation of high levels of benzene has been reported to cause dizziness, weakness, euphoria, headache, nausea, blurred vision, respiratory diseases, tremors, irregular heartbeat, liver and kidney damage, paralysis, and unconsciousness. In animal tests, inhalation of benzene led to cataract formation and diseases of the blood and lymphatic systems. Chronic exposure to even relatively low levels causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances, and diseases of the blood system, including anemia and bone marrow disease.

Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commercial product used in the metal degreasing and dry-cleaning industries, but it is also used in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, and adhesives. The National Cancer Institute considers this chemical a potent liver carcinogen.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous chemical found in virtually all indoor environments. The major sources, which have been reported and publicized, include urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and particleboard or pressed-wood products. Consumer paper products, including grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, and paper towels, are treated with urea- formaldehyde (UF) resins. Many common household cleaning agents contain formaldehyde. UF resins are used as stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellants, fire retardants, and adhesive binders in floor covering, carpet backing, and permanent-press clothes. Other sources of formaldehyde include cigarette smoke and heating and cooking fuels such as natural gas and kerosene.

Formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat. It is a highly reactive chemical that combines with protein and can cause allergic contact dermatitis. The most widely reported symptoms from exposure to high levels of this chemical include irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes and headaches. The EPA’s research indicates that formaldehyde is strongly suspected of causing a rare type of throat cancer in long-term occupants of mobile homes.

Ammonia

Ammonia is a chemical found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts, and fertilizers.  Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include eye irritation, coughing, and sore throat.

Chemicals

Best Air-Filtering Plants

Here are 18 air-filtering houseplants recommended by NASA to help keep your indoor environment clean and healthy!

PLEASE NOTE: SEVERAL OF THESE PLANTS ARE KNOWN TO BE TOXIC TO CATS, DOGS, AND OTHER PETS.  IF YOU ARE A PET OWNER, PLEASE CHECK THE TOXICITY OF PLANTS BEFORE INTRODUCING THEM TO YOUR HOME.Plants 1

Plants 2

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18 Responses

  1. I have never thought about placing plants in my home to filter the air. Being a person that has a mold allergy, I need to have my home decently filtered and clean. This information could really help me or someone like me. Thanks for the share!

  2. Very nice! I knew about the peace lily, but I didn’t know about the others. If you take good care of these plants, they can be an affordable alternative to air purifying machines. There are also studies that show that caring for houseplants can help with depression and anxiety. Plus, these plants are just plain lovely. Thank you for posting this.

    1. I totally agree with you.It is more natural than chemical air purifier. I don’t know that the plants can relieve depression and stress. Thank you for this information. Plus it is a wonderful display in a living room and even bedrooms.

  3. This is great! I love having house plants, I find they make it very “home-y” and it looks very nice as a supplemental decor. I find that it also helps keep stuff out of the air and keeps it smelling nice in here too.

  4. I keep snake plants at home for just this purpose. The air pollution outside is bad enough. I don’t want to be breathing that in my home, too. Granted, I don’t think this would work for mold or mite allergies. Plants can actually harbor mold and would do nothing for mites.

  5. I loved this information. I suffer from bad allergies and chest congestion and since placing a fern and a few peace lilies around my home, I find it seems to ave help a little as well as making my place look great. I love how indoor plants really liven up your home, plus the health benefits!

  6. These are some good tips. My mom is one of those people who really like having plants everywhere in the house, she really will take these tips into account, thank you for sharing.

  7. Yikes! Sick Building Syndrome sounds scary. I guess I’m lucky though because I work in a greenhouse! We have thousands of plants growing all the time.
    It’s amazing how important plants are for us. This encourages me to take better care of my houseplants!

    1. That’s an excellent question. I don’t have the expertise to say for sure, but I like your thinking of placing the plants in the most “contaminated” or “toxic” areas. I would also keep the plants near the areas that I use most frequently to make sure those environments remain purified.

      1. That is an excellent idea, to place the plants in the most toxic part of your house and ghe most common room that you always use. This plants may seem like a display but it is purifying the air around it.

  8. I really had no idea that these were a solution, but it makes sense, and I am really going to have to consider getting some of these. It is always interesting to hear of the natural remedies for common things, and we have a good one here.

    1. It couldn’t be considered a full solution, but it really works according to the NASA. The thing is where to find the specific kind of plant, other than that, it’s fine.

  9. I love posts like this because I try to live as environment-friendly as possible. I think it’s extremely important because if we aren’t careful we will end up destroying our beautiful planet. I never realized NASA published this so thank you for posting. I am also amazed by the percentage of how much time an average American spends indoors. 93% is wayyy higher than what I would have guessed.

    I personally have two Boston Fern plants, and three small Spider plants. I never realized their benefits though. Just shows how important plants are.

    We should all try to get more of these plants in our homes and make the air we breathe healthier.

  10. Thanks a lot! Im very happy that I found this topic in this blog because my family lives in a small condominium unit and the room has only 2 windows so the unit is suffocating. This past few weeks we experience a cough virus that we find hard and long to cure, I know now the reason, we are always inside our house, we seldom go outside. We go out if we need shopping other than that all day we are inside our house. So the virus we caught always stay present inside because we are not regularly go outside. Now I know how to prevent that. Im going to buy one of that plant and go outside more often. Thanks again ! You help me a lot mycareexpert.com

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