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Golden pothos/Wikipedia
According to studies, plants can remove ozone from the air in your home. As per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ozone levels of 110ppb (parts per billion) can lead to a spike in visits to emergency rooms for respiratory related problems. Close your doors and windows to protect yourself? Items in your home can cause spikes in ozone levels, so there’s no running away. For example, laser printers can emit up to 30ppb of ozone while printing. Paints, varnishes, carpeting, or other products containing VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) create ozone when these compounds meet with ultraviolet light and oxygen.
In a study conducted by Dennis Decoteau of Penn State's Department of Horticulture, three common houseplants were put into chambers in a greenhouse, then had ten times the normal indoor ozone levels injected into the chambers. While it took 75 minutes for the ozone levels to come down to within 3% of the initial level in the chamber without plants, the chamber with plants took only 50 minutes.
Conclusion? Houseplants can help neutralize harmful ozone. The plants used by Decoteau were the golden pothos, the snake plant, and spider plant.
”The more leaf area you have, the more detoxification takes place,” said Decoteau. He explained that the plants used were the average size houseplant that fit into 9” diameter pots. Decoteau further noted that although the golden pothos worked the fastest at removing ozone, the differences were fairly small. Any of these three plants will cut the ozone in your home.
In another study conducted by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), Dr. Bill Wolverton, formerly a senior research scientist at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Miss. Said, “plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves. Wolverton continued by saying, “but research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors.” In conclusion, Wolverton said, “we feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places.”
Interestingly, some plants removed specific types of chemicals better than others. For removing formaldehyde molecules, the best performers were the philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos. Formaldehyde is used in some paints and common household cleaning agents. It can cause allergic contact dermatitis. One of the most widely reported symptoms of this chemical was irritation of the eyes, headaches and asthma. But recently, the EPA has conducted research that strongly suggests that formaldehyde may also cause a rare type of lung cancer in long-term occupants of mobile homes.
Snake plant
NASA found that houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours. They recommend using 15 to 18 "good-sized" houseplants in 6-to 8-inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house.
Even more benefits:
•Workers in offices with plants are happier than workers in offices without plants. Having indoor plants does wonders for employee health and morale.
•Plant-filled rooms contain up to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants.
•Houseplants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent as they can increase humidity levels and decrease dust, according to a University of Agriculture in Norway study.
As per The NASA and ALCA study, the list for the most effective plants for treating indoor air pollution is listed below. All plants should be easily found at your local nursery.
1. Philodendron scandens `oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron
2. Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron
3. Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana', cornstalk dracaena
4. Hedera helix, English ivy
5. Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant
6. Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig', Janet Craig dracaena
7. Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii', Warneck dracaena
8. Ficus benjamina, weeping fig
9. Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos
10. Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa', peace lily
11. Philodendron selloum, selloum philodendron
12. Aglaonema modestum, Chinese evergreen
13. Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm
14. Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant
15. Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena
The study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of these common houseplants for an average home of under 2,000 square feet to help improve air quality. The plants should be grown in six-inch containers or larger.
Remember: Some plants may be poisonous to children and/or pets. Always check before bringing a plant home.
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Email Domenick Pilla at: dpilla711@gmail.com
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