Best indoor plants for air purification according to NASA

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Indoor plants do a great job of cleaning indoor air, but some are better at it than others.

Scientists from NASA were solving the problem of how to purify the air in a space station. In their study, they tried to determine which indoor plants can remove harmful substances from the air: benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene, xylene and ammonia.

Whether these substances will have a negative effect on human health depends on many factors: the amount and type of substance, the time and method of exposure, the individual characteristics of each person's body. We will focus on the general symptoms that appear after prolonged exposure to a chemical.

Substance	Where is contained	Poisoning symptoms
Trichlorethylene	In printing ink, furniture varnish, drying oil, glue, paint thinner	Emotional agitation, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, hypersomnia and loss of consciousness are possible
Formaldehyde	In paper bags, wrapping paper, cosmetic wipes, toilet paper, table napkins, chipboard, plywood panels, synthetic fabrics	Irritation of the lining of the nose, mouth and throat, possibly swelling of the larynx and lungs
Benzene	It is used in the production of plastics, rubber, synthetic fabrics, lubricants, paints, detergents, dyes. Also found in tobacco smoke, adhesives, paintwork	Irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, hypersomnia, dizziness, increased heart rate, headache, confusion, blurred consciousness
Xylene	In printed materials, rubber, leather, paints and varnishes, tobacco smoke	Irritation of the mouth and throat, dizziness, headache, confusion, heart problems
Ammonia	In windshield wipers, floor polish	Eye irritation, cough, sore throat

In the course of the study, scientists have found that certain types of houseplants can practically negate the harmful effects of these chemicals. The most effective remedy on this list is sansevieria, or pike tail.

Roebelen date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Nephrolepis exaltata (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Fern Kimberly queen (Nephrolepis obliterata)

Chlorophytum crested (Chlorophytum comosum)

Aglaonema (Aglaonema modestum)

Hamedorea (Chamaedorea Seifrizii)

Ficus benjamina

Epipremnum golden (Epipremnum aureum)

Anthurium andraeanum

But keep in mind that some of these plants may be poisonous to cats, dogs and other pets. If you have a pet, first check if the plant that you are going to put at home is not dangerous for him.