Many American homes are insulated with synthetic vulcanized fiber and plastic that pass off VOCs ( volatile organic compounds ) including benzine , formaldehyde and trichloroethylene ( TCE ) . atmosphere filters can capture dust and hackles , but they do little to eliminate VOCs , cigarette smoke and the fume of family cleanser , paint and varnish . Is it potential that house plants can filter some of these poison ? The answer is yes .
The Research
NASA has long been interested in the potential of works to keep healthy living environs in space . In 1984 , NASA enquiry scientist Dr. Bill Wolverton used seal chambers to examine plants that could be used to strip the air of lunar habitats . He secrete the results of his enquiry suggest that from one to three plants could meliorate the air in a 100 - three-dimensional - foot sphere . His findings stay on controversial , but some plant have in fact been proven to improve indoor air quality .
A 1989 NASA subject area assert that tested houseplants filter up to 87 percent of toxic indoor melodic line in 24 hours . Wolverton also argued that indoor plant help keep an optimum humidity of between 35 to 65 per centum . overweening humidity encourages the outgrowth of mold spore .
In 1994 , a German study concluded that one wanderer plant could strip a methanal - laden , 100 - cubic - foot elbow room in six hour .
Researchers for the Environmental Protection Agency have been unconvinced by the NASA and German studies , claiming they were done in controlled environments . They were not conduct in room with people coming and going , opening and closing doors . Wolverton anticipate by saying abode tests suggest that rooms without plant have 50 percent more germ than those that do .
Specific Plants
As a termination of his inquiry , Wolverton touted the airwave - filtering power of the " Janet Craig " dracaena , heartsease lily and the lady palm tree . He also note these plants with air - separate out capability :
Philodenrons and golden pothos were aver to be excellent in controlling methanal . Chrysanthemums were good at retch benzene . Pot mama and peace of mind lilies got mellow rating for remove TCE . Gerbera daisy are pretty flowers with astonishingly telling air filtration abilities . Those lovely little daisies can help oneself filter out out benzene , trichloroethylene and methanal .
Red - edge dracaena ( tall evergreen ) can filter benzene , xylene , tolulene , and fermaldyhyde , and tolulene . Xylene can cause confusion , vertigo and lack of musculene . Tolulene cause weakness , nausea , fatigue , confusion and memory personnel casualty ,
in conclusion , the Warneck dracaena , also recognise as the Dragon , tree diagram has long leaves that are said to be effective at filtering airwave .
Bamboo
The NASA studies showed that bamboo plants , well adaptable to a home environment , were especially effective in filtering formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the breeze – both carcinogenic and toxic chemical substance discover in advanced dwelling .
