NASA Study : Plants that will improve our indoor air quality
Whether you are inside office / home or on the street, the poor air quality is one of the distressing problems that we can’t avoid. Still, keeping some plants inside the closed atmosphere, we can improve the air quality of that place.
Some of the toxic air associated with the indoor are : Benzene, Carbon Monoxide, Farmaldehyde, Ammonia, Carbon di oxide and Trichloroethylene. Using the LPG, Printers, Paints, Paper products, Cement and other constructions materials will create these kinds of toxic gases.
By keeping some of the plants, we can reduce the intensity of the toxic air quality. This list is arrived based on the NASA study.
Let us look at the plants, one by one:
1) Money Plant (Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum)
Money Plants are one of the most commonly used plants that are placed indoors, as money plants give out oxygen even at night, this makes them that much more feasible and valuable placing them in your living and bed room. Not much maintenance is required to manage this plant.
2) Peace Lily (Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum)
A plant with big dark green leaves and a white spate, this plant has been found to eradicate Benzene, Trichloroethane, and Formaldehyde present in the air indoors is a good choice for office premises.
3) Snake Plant (Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata)
This snake-shaped plant is also knows as Viper’s Bowstring Hemp is said to remove toxins, compounds from air like Xylene, Benzene, and Toulene.
Just like Money Plant, Snake Plant too, gives out oxygen at night. In addition, not much care is required. Because, it can survive without water for days.
4) Areca Palm (Botanical Name: Dypsis lutescens)
This is also known as Yellow Palm and Golden Cane plant, according to a research conducted by NASA, this plant is amongst the top 10 plants in removing Formaldehyde from air. This plant is also a great humidifier, a 6 feet tall Areca Palm plant can provide you with 1 litre of water in the air in just 24 hours. Apart from Formaldehyde, the plant also neutralises Carbon monoxide, Benzene, Xylene, and Trichloroethylene from the air. This plant can be avoidable for the humid places. AT the same time, it’s good choice for hot and dry places.
5) Rubber Plant (Botanical Name: Ficus elastic)
This is also knows as Rubber Bush Plant, this plant efficiently removes VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and Bio Effluents from the air. However, if you have pets, please not that Rubber Plants are toxic to some animals. So, a bit cautious approach is good before keeping this plant.
6) Aloe Vera (Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis)
We know that the gel inside its leaves are used to heal cuts and burns, and also people use it to moisturise their skin, but little did we know that Aloe Vera is found to be effective in purifying the air. This plant removes Benzene and Formaldehyde from the air, and like the 2 plants mentioned above, this too releases oxygen during the night.
7) Weeping Fig Plant (Botanical Name: Ficus benjamina)
This is also known as Benjamin Fig, and Ficus Tree. According to the study done by NASA, this tree eradicates Benzene, Xylene, Toluene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde from the air. Please note, just like Rubber Plant, this too is poisonous for some pets. If you don’t have any pets, then it’s an excellent choice.
8) Common Ivy (Botanical Name: Hedera helix)
This is also known as English Ivy, European Ivy, and Ivy is known for removing Xylene, Benzene, Toluene, and Formaldehyde from the air. Apart from this, this plant is also known for removing certain particles from the air which makes it even better to keep at home of someone has Asthma. Highly recommended for homes.
9) Chinese Evergreen Plant (Botanical Name: Aglaonema )
The Chinese Evergreens are known to remove Carmon Monoxide, Benzene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde from the air. However, please keep in mind, that Chinese Evergreen plants need an ambient room temperature of 16 degree Celsius or more as they cannot tolerate cold temperatures.
10) Spider Plant (Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum)
This is also known as Airplane Plants, and was found to be effective in removing Xylene, Toluene, and Formaldehyde from the air. Spider plant too does not require a lot of care.
Compiled by
Srini
Reference Source: XPloringIndia Website