Remove Indoor Toxins With Plants

Levels of indoor air pollution are on the rise. Health effects such as headaches, fatigue, allergies, nervous system disturbances, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity disorder), and many types of cancer may be attributed to a host of indoor pollutants. Pesticides, phenols (found in most disinfectants), carbon monoxide, nitrogen and radon gases, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and TCE (trichloroethylene) are just a few of the toxic offenders that have found their ways into our homes.

Reducing the amount of chemicals that we use inside the home is one way that we can lessen the extent of the indoor pollution that can wreak havoc on our health. Another helpful weapon against the onslaught is the magic of common houseplants.

Recent studies by NASA scientists have found this list of the top ten common indoor plants that can clean the air inside our homes and offices by absorbing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and benzene from the air:

1. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) - Also called the "Butterfly Palm"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

4. Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)

5. Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena deremensis)

6. Philodendron (Philodendron sp.)

7. Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

8. Ficus Alii (Ficus macleilandii “Alii”)

9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”)

10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)

More information can be found here:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants

2. TED talk on growing fresh air.