May 23, 2015

These houseplants will help purify the air in your home

NASA study withstands test of time

By Michael Tanenbaum
PhillyVoice Staff

Waiting on the other side of Memorial Day weekend is a Philadelphia summer that projects to bring in many sweltering days, which may keep you inside for long stretches after exhausting outdoor activities.

The great indoors can be every bit as stifling as a heatwave, albeit in less obvious ways apart from abject boredom, so it's helpful to know how to outfit your abode with natural remedies to reduce interior air pollutants.

In 1989, NASA conducted a Clean Air Study to determine which house plants most effectively ward off the toxins found in a range of household goods. The research was carried out by placing plant species inside a Plexiglas chamber and injecting the following chemicals inside before collecting air samples to see how the microorganisms of potting soil and plants fared in removing the air pollutants below (infographics via Love the Garden).

The chemical compounds above can have the following harmful effects on human beings, which became an unintended menace during the energy crunch of the 1970s, when new synthetic materials were used to increase the efficiency of industrial heating and cooling systems. NASA took a particular interest in examining these issues as it attempted to improve filtration and safety inside the sealed habitats of spacecraft.

NASA conducted the study jointly with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America and found that the following plants were most useful in removing these indoor pollutants and their harmful effects.

Also included on the list are the Red-Edged Dracaena, the Peace Lily, and the Florist's Chrysanthemum.

So if you're planning on maintaining a garden for vegetables and spices this summer, you might as well look into growing or purchasing some of these plants for your house or apartment. Not only are they an aesthetic buddy, but they could help the way you feel inside on those scorching summer days ahead.