Cleaner Indoor Air: a House Plant’s Effectiveness According to NASA Study

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Indoor plants are not only great for adding some aesthetic appeal to your home, but they also provide a range of health benefits. According to NASA, plants are known to reduce stress levels, improve mood, and even purify the air of harmful polluntants.

In the late 1980s, NASA conducted the ‘Clean Air Study’. The purpose of this study was to determine which plants could effectively remove harmful chemicals from the air, specifically in sealed environments like spacecrafts. The study’s results were surprising, showing that certain indoor plants were more highly effective at removing toxins from the air than others.

Chlorophytum comosum

This plant, ‘the spider plant’, is easy to care for in various lighting conditions and is known to remove formaldehyde, a chemical commonly found in household cleaning products.

Sansevieria trifasciata

This easy to care for plant, known as the ‘snake plant’, is particularly effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spathiphyllum

This plant, ‘the peace lily’, is known to remove several harmful chemicals, including benzene and trichloroethylene, which are commonly found in household products such as paint, varnish, and adhesives.

Ficus Elastica

Known as the ‘rubber plant’, the fiscus elastica removes formaldehyde from the air, which is commonly found in household cleaning products, while producing large, glossy leaves.

In conclusion, indoor plants not only add beauty and life to your home, but they can also provide air purification. The NASA Clean Air Study has shown that certain indoor plants are highly effective at removing harmful chemicals from the air, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve the air quality in their home. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, there are plenty of indoor plants to choose from that can help keep your home healthy and clean.

Source: Kandwal, Neha. 12 NASA recommended air-purifying plants that you must have in your house. iamgreenified. medium.com. December 12, 2019. Accessed June 1, 2023.