The NASA Guide to Air-filtering Houseplants

THE NASA Guide TO Air-filtering Houseplants It won't surprise you to hear that the majority of people spend the bulk of their time indoors, whether it's at home or working in an office environment. As such, it's important to ensure that air quality is of a high standard, something that regular houseplants can help achieve. Back in 1989, NASA conducted a Clean Air Study in association with Associated Landscape Contractors of America, in an effort to find the most effective common indoor plants for filtering harmful toxins and pollutants from the air. Their results have stood the test of time, and the most effective air filtering plants can be found below. WHAT'S IN OUR AIR? TRICHLOROETHYLENE FORMALDEHYDE BENZENE XYLENE AMMONIA Found in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives and paint remover/stripper. Found in paper bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, paper towels, table napkins, particle board, plywood panelling, and synthetic fabrics. Used to make plastics, resins, synthetic fibres, rubber lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides. Can also be found in tobacco smoke, Found in printing, rubber, leather and paint industries, tobacco smoke Found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts and and vehicle exhausts. fertilizers. vehicle exhausts, glue, paint and furniture wax. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ON HUMANS? Like most chemicals, the adverse health effects you may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed, the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure and the form of the chemical. Below are common symptoms associated with each toxic agent. XYLENE TRICHLOROETHYLENE Symptoms associated with short term Symptoms associated with short term exposure include excitement, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting followed by drowsiness and coma. exposure include irritation to mouth and throat, dizziness, headache, confusion, heart problems, liver and kidney damage and coma. FORMALDEHYDE AMMONIA Symptoms associated with short term exposure include irritation to nose, mouth and throat, and in severe cases, Symptoms associated with short term exposure include eye irritation, coughing and sore throat. swelling of the larynx and lungs. BENZENE PLEASE NOTE Symptoms associated with short term exposure include irritation to eyes, drowsiness, dizziness, increase in heart Several of these plants are known to be toxic to cats, dogs and other pets. If you are a pet owner, please do check the toxicity of plants before introducing them to your home. rate, headaches, confusion and in some cases can result in unconsciousness. AIR-FILTERING PLANTS DWARF DATE PALM BOSTON FERN KIMBERLEY SPIDER PLANT CHINESE Phoenix robelenii Nephrolepis exaltata QUEEN FERN Chlorophytum comosum EVERGREEN Nephrolepis obliterata Aglaonema modestum BAMBOO PALM WEEPING FIG DEVIL'S IVY FLAMINGO LILY LILYTURF Chamaedorea seifrizii Ficus benjamina Epipremnum aureum Anthurium andraeanum Liriope spicata BROADLEAF BARBERTON CORNSTALK ENGLISH IVY VARIGATED LADY PALM DAISY DRACAENA Hedera helix SNAKE PLANT Draceaena fragrans Massangeana' Rhapis excelsa Gerbera jamesonii Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii' RED-EDGED FLORIST'S CHRYSANTHEMUM PEACE LILY DRACAENA Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa' Dracaena marginata Chrysanthemum morifolium lovethegarden.com SOURCES + REFERENCES nasa.gou/ archive/ nasa/ casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf wolvertonenvironmental.com/MsAcad-93.pdf gov.uk/government/collections/chemical-hazards-compendium