Clean Air

February 3, 2010

Cleaning up the air has been a topic of politicians for almost as long as I can remember. Here in the Inland Empire, it does seem that some progress has been made as unhealthful air days seem to be less frequent. However, my posting today is not on the macro enviornment, but on the micro environment in your residence - or perhaps in your workplace.

Did you know that house plants do more than make our living and working places attractive? They actually improve the air we breathe.

Research at NASA has shown that houseplants are an antidote to many of the unhealthy household substances that contribute to poor indoor air quality that sometimes leads to illness. Greenery soaks up VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) in carpeting, linens and other home furnishings. The plants break the VOCs down and uses them as food. (Can you believe it!)

Two to three plants in 8-inch or 10-inch pots every 100 square feet will help clean up the air in your breathing zone. Double this amount and your air should become healthier in just one week.
(A breathing zone is an area of six to eight cubic feet surrounding a person.)

What are these super plants?

Bamboo Palm

Lady palm

Dwarf date palm

Janet Craig dracena

Warnecki dracena

Kimberly queen

Weeping fig

Gerbera daisy

Corn plant

English ivy.

For example, it is reputed that after only twelve hours, English ivy can remove 78% of mold and 96% of doggy doo particles in the air in a room of 100 square feet. (you do need to remember that some of these plants are toxic if eaten, so if you have small children or pets you will need to place them out of reach.)

I do not know if these plants are superior to the air purifiers presently on the market, but I do know that they are more attractive and that NASA is certainly not an institution with a vested interest in selling us plants.