As mentioned last time, indoor air pollution is a silent killer at home especially when you have a closed ventilation at home. Imagine it will affect even more when you are at air tight International Space Station. NASA carried a study on how to purify air in a air tight condition like ISS. NASA’s solution, is a natural solution, use plants to purify the air. Below are some details for the study.
NASA Clean Air Study researched various ways to clean the air in space stations. The result suggested that beside absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, certain indoor plants may also remove toxin agents such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air naturally. Below are some common plants that are effective in cleaning toxins in the air.
English Ivy
One of the plant that is easiest to grow. Many cultivars are even hardy enough to survive winter outdoor. English ivy makes very nice hanging basket with its greenish leaves. It absorbs chemicals benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene from the air. Moderate light is ok for the plant.
Spider Plant
Spider plant is another flavoured type of hanging basket. With green and white striped leaves make it distinctive among other plants. Absorbing toxins formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. This is one of the uncommon air cleaning plants that is safe for pets. Light to medium level of light is fine for this plant.
Peace Lily
Peace Lily is the king of air cleaning plant. Not just because it is the only one of the 3 plants absorb ammonia among various plants, but also this is the only plant that absorbs all toxins tested: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene and toluene. The amount of benzene and trichloroethylene removed are among the top 3 in plants tested. This is a must have plant if you want to have a nice air quality at home. Please note that this is poisonous to pets.
Snake Plant
Snake plant is a very unique plant among other plants. Not just because it has a nickname tongue of mother-in-law, though it fairly accurately described the appearance of the plant, but its special way of exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Before mentioning the special way of exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen. Let’s check what toxin does it absorb. Basically it removes all chemicals tested except ammonia: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene. What makes snake plant more unique is, unlike most of the plants, it releases oxygen at night. It makes a good house plant specially in bedroom. Light requirement is fairly low, although it will do very well with higher light level. Therefore it is seen in shopping malls very often. Watering is also not a concern, it can stand drought fairly well. Instead, most of the problem caring the plant is not pest or drought, but root rotting from overwatering.
Boston Fern
Another famous hanging basket, beside it is non-toxic to pets, it also removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air. Boston fern needs a moisten environment to grow. Its leaves turn yellow if the air is too dry. This is a good indication for you to moisten up the house.