New Research Shows Houseplants Improve Indoor Air Quality

If you thought houseplants had gone the way of shag carpets and lava lamps, new research may give you reason to reconsider. The new research, some of which comes from NASA, has confirmed what many of us have long suspected — that plants can play a significant role in reducing indoor air pollution.

The Wall Street Journal reports that NASA recently explored the utility of plants for purifying air in space environments. This, in turn, led to a team of researchers from the University of Georgia and other universities around the world to look into the potential health benefits of plants in the home. What they discovered should have us all heading to the nearest nursery.

Plants, researchers found, work tirelessly to purify the air around them –– a process researchers call “phytoremediation”. And with the air in modern homes and offices becoming increasingly toxic, there couldn’t be a better time for the humble houseplant to come back into fashion.

In recent years, more and more has become known of the potential dangers of indoor air pollutants. Common indoor air pollutants include particulate matter, like dust and pollen, and gaseous pollutants emitted from paints, carpets and aerosol cans. Concentrations of these pollutants can be up to five times higher indoors than out. And considering that about 90% of our time is spent indoors, the quality of air inside our homes is something we all need to be taking seriously.

Strangely enough, some of the most common and effective green home improvements may actually be contributing to indoor air pollution. Researchers say energy efficiency measures like insulation and weatherproofing can increase the potential risks of air pollutants by effectively sealing off their leakage to the outside. Risks are also higher in large commercial spaces, such as big office buildings, that do not have operable windows for ventilation. Mechanical ventilation units that exchange stale indoor air with fresh air from outside are common in these buildings, but are expensive and often extraneous in homes. Enter the houseplant –– an inexpensive, readily available and environmentally-friendly alternative.

Plants clean the air in two ways: by absorbing pollutants through pores found on leaves, and by metabolizing contaminants through tiny microorganisms living in the soil. In one study conducted in an office environment, potted plants were able to reduce dangerous VOCs (volatile organic compounds) by almost 75% and dust by 20%.

“Potted plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation system for indoor air pollution,” says Margaret Burchett of the University of Technology in Sydney. One or two plants placed on an office desk or a handful spread throughout a home can play a significant role in reducing indoor pollutants.

Some institutions are already taking action. Planners of the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in Michigan have filled the atrium of the new facility with hundreds of live plants to generate oxygen and filter contaminants.

While all plants are helpful in cleaning our air, not all houseplants are created equal. Researchers claim that certain plants (English ivy, asparagus fern, and variegated wax plant among them) are much better at filtering harmful contaminants than others. Some stores, like Lowe’s and Home Depot, have even begun labeling the most effective air-cleaning plants with special tags.

In addition to identifying the plant varieties best suited for indoor air cleansing, researchers at the University of Georgia aim to develop a simple test kit for homeowners to periodically check the quality of air in their homes. Some enterprising scientists have even begun to market air-filtering products that make dual use of live plants and electric fan technology. The Andrea Air Filter, a sleek and simple plant-assisted air filtration device, has already sold thousands of units.

Just in the nick of time, the houseplant is making a much-need return to our homes.

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