How Typical Houseplants Can Help
Almost all plants act as air cleaners, they filter out the pollutants from the air and convert it to pure oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. In our homes, there are several harsh chemical pollutants that inhibit us humans from breathing in fresh clean air, commonly found in today’s homes are benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene (TCE).
Benzene:
Benzene is a colorless gas and is one of the many chemicals that make up gasoline and is found in tobacco smoke, gasoline, inks, oils, paint, plastic, and rubber. A known carcinogen, benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and vomiting. Leukemia is the form of cancer most commonly associated with benzene exposure. About 90 percent of airborne benzene results from gasoline.
Plants that remove benzene are: Bamboo Palm, Gerbera Daisies, Peace Lilies, Chrysanthemum, Snake Plant, etc.
Formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde has been used in construction and manufacturing for more than 100 years, but only in the last decade have studies linked the gas to nasal cancer in laboratory animals. Formaldehyde is found in virtually in all indoor environments. Many cleaning products also contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde fumes can also cause chronic respiratory problems, dizziness, rashes, lethargy and nausea. According to Dr. Bill Wolverton, senior research scientist at NASA, ”About 15 to 20 plants should completely remove the formaldehyde from an 1,800-square-foot house.”
Research from NASA show that the leaves of certain plants reduce formaldehyde gases up to 80%. Some of these plants are Spider Plant, philodendrons, Peace Lilies, Snake Plants, etc.
Trichloroethylene (TCE):
Trichloroethylene has a wide variety of industrial uses. It is used in inks, paints, varnishes, and adhesives. Plants that remove trichloroethylene are: Peace lilies, Gerbera daisies, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo Palm, etc.
The easiest and most effective way to reduce these harmful pathogens from our house and office air is to have fresh plants throughout. Plants have a much larger role in our world other than “looking pretty”, with the growing increase of cancers and cancer related illnesses, it is our responsibility to take what Mother Nature has given us to combat detrimental airborne gases and solvents from affecting our health further. Let’s all pollute our houses and offices with plants, while helping the environment!
Author:
Michelle Robitaille
Sources: http://bloomex.ca
http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/
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