Bye Bye Toxins: Plants to Improve Indoor Air Quality

In developed countries, people spend over 90% of their time indoors, but according to the EPA, indoor levels of pollutants may be 12 times higher than outdoor pollutant levels and have been ranked among the top 5 environmental risks to the public. Volatile organic compounds, dust, retardants, pesticides, toxic metals, mold, mildew, and other pollutants contribute to this poor indoor air quality.

This is where plants come in! Research shows that plant-filled rooms contain 50-60% fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants. Plants can filter toxicants from the air, soil, and water. They metabolize toxic chemicals and then release them as harmless by-products or store them in their tissue. These are the plants researchers have found to be the most effective in improving air quality:

• Golden Pothos (aka Devil's Ivy)

• Dracaena (aka Janet Craig)

• Areca Palm

• Lady Palm

• Bamboo Palm

• Rubber Plant

• English Ivy

• Ficus

• Boston Fern

• Peace Lily

• Hoya Carnosa (aka Wax Plant)

• Asparagus Densiflorus

• Tradescantia Pallida (aka Purple Heart)

Indoor Plant Tips

• Keep a variety all over your home, especially where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom.

• Plants need to be clean and healthy do to their job.

• To check if a plant needs water, stick your finger half an inch deep into the soil. If the soil is dry, water it.

• When you water, let it wash through the plant if you can.

• Don't let plants sit in water; keep them in well-drained containers.

• Keep an eye on the soil. Inspect for pests regularly and hose off the plant outside if you find any.

• Occasionally clean the leaves with a damp cloth. Don't apply any soap, oil, or wax.

• Typically the best light for indoor plants is an area with diffused light.

REFERENCES

Planting healthier indoor air. (2011). Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 119, no. 10, 2011, p. A426+. https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A270992640/PPNU?sid=lms

Yang, D. S., Pennisi, S. V., Son, K.-C., & Kays, S. J. (2009). Screening Indoor Plants for Volatile Organic Pollutant Removal Efficiency. HortScience, 44(5), 1377–1381.https://doi.org/10.21273/

HORTSCI.44.5.1377

Seguel, J. M., Merrill, R., Seguel, D., & Campagna, A. C. (2017). Indoor Air Quality. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11(4), 284–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827616653343

Davis, J. B. (1998, November 1). Use Nature to Root Out Indoor Pollution. Retrieved July 31, 2019, from Vibrant Life website: https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A53279893/AONE?sid=lms

Photo by Eduard Militaru on Unsplash