Can Plants Really Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Posted on December 22nd, 2015 by Devine Bros
Are you aware of the indoor air pollution problem? It may sound like a fictitious issue, but the danger is real.
Indoor air pollution is just what it sounds like – it is the contamination of the air we breathe inside of our homes, offices, and schools. In fact, the air in your home could be up to ten times more polluted than even the dirtiest of cities. It doesn’t matter if you live in an urban or a rural environment, your indoor air quality is likely inadequate.
Indoor air pollution comes with a plethora of side effects, including allergic-like reactions such as sneezing, coughing, headaches, nausea, fever, and fatigue. Long-term, it can lead to serious complications such as respiratory problems, pneumonia, COPD, and even lung cancer. Indoor air pollution effects everybody, but infants and those who have asthma are more susceptible to the dangers of it.
Although it is a rather largely unknown problem, indoor air pollution is nothing new. Researchers have been studying the effects of indoor air pollution and how to combat it for decades. One of the more popular myths circling around the internet is that houseplants can help purify the air in your home. But is it true?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes. In the late 1980s, NASA conducted a study to see if common houseplants could naturally purify the air in their space stations. They found that certain plants could indeed remove harmful toxins from the air, making it healthier to breathe. Some of the plants they found most effective at doing this were:
- Aloe Vera
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Peace Lilly
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Spider Plant
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English Ivy
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Boston Fern
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Heart Leaf Philodendron
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Eucalyptus
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African Violets
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Chinese Evergreen
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Chrysanthemum
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Bamboo Palm
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Golden Pothos
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Snake Plant
If you are worried that your home’s air may be polluted, take action! Besides adding houseplants, here are some other things you can do to improve your home’s air quality. You can also contact Devine Bros. for a free air quality assessment. Our experts will come into your Fairfield County home and use professional testing devices to determine the quality of your home’s air. If you live in Norwalk, CT or the surrounding area, give us a call at (203) 866-4421.