The NASA Clean Air Study was led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). Its results suggest that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.
The first list of air-filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of a clean air study published in 1989, which researched ways to clean air in space stations. As well as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as all plants do, these plants also eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. The second and third lists are from B. C. Wolverton's book and paper and focus on removal of specific chemicals.
NASA researchers suggest efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space. Other more recent research has shown that micro-organisms in the potting mix (soil) of a potted plant remove benzene from the air, and that some plant species also contribute to removing benzene.
Chart of air-filtering plants
Foliage
Most of the plants on the list originated in tropical or subtropical environments. Due to their ability to flourish on reduced sunlight, their leaf composition allows them to photosynthesize well in household light.
See also
- Phytoremediation
- Eichhornia crassipes
- Green wall
- Rain garden
- Dendrobium
- Dracaena reflexa
- Indoor air quality
References
External links
- Best Houseplants for removing toxins from air and how they reduce pollutants An Article by My Garden Story
- How to Grow Your Own Fresh Air â€" TED 2009. An extension of the TED Talk.
- Info on plants that remove specific pollutants
- A Garden Myth Is Born â€" Plants Don’t Purify Air; By Robert Pavlis on December 27, 2014
