NASA clean air study - Top ranked NASA approved air purifier plants for your home.

Quality of the indoor air has been greatly affected these days and with most of us spending almost 70% to 80% of time indoors, either at office or home, a good quality pure air is highly essential. NASA clean air study has come out with a list of NASA indoor air quality plants to purify air. Air pollution and toxins present in the air even inside our home are the major causes of lung related pulmonary diseases and many types of cancer. The most common air pollutants found in our home are formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylene, toluene and ammonia.

These are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and most of these affect our health. NASA houseplants are actually the plants that can remove these VOCs from air and provide clean air. These VOCs are given out by many indoor sources and the most common sources of VOC are listed below.

VOC emitting Household products, including:

• paints, paint strippers and other solvents

• wood preservatives

• aerosol sprays

• cleansers and disinfectants

• moth repellents and air fresheners

• stored fuels and automotive products

• hobby supplies

• dry-cleaned clothing

• Pesticide

• Gas and other fuel 

Other products, including:

• building materials and furnishings

• office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper

• graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions. (Source)

VOCs cause massive health problems:

VOCs that are constantly being emitted indoors cause health problems. The health problems and the organ affected by these VOCs are given below. 

1. Formaldehyde - Affected Organ Systems:

Dermal (Skin), Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Immunological (Immune System), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Health problems caused by formaldehyde:

When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. (Source)

2. Ammonia - Affected Organ Systems:

Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Health problems caused by Ammonia:

Ammonia is corrosive. The severity of health effects depends on the route of exposure, the dose and the duration of exposure. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract and can result in blindness, lung damage or death. Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation.
Swallowing ammonia can cause burns to the mouth, throat and stomach. Skin or eye contact with concentrated ammonia can also cause irritation and burns. (Source)

Benzene -  Affected Organ Systems:

Hematological (Blood Forming), Immunological (Immune System), Neurological (Nervous System) (Source)

Health problems caused by Benzene:

The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. (Long-term exposure means exposure of a year or more.) Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.  
(Source) 

Trichloroethylene - Affected Organ Systems:

Developmental (effects during periods when organs are developing), Neurological (Nervous System). 

Health problems caused by Trichloroethylene: Non-Cancer effects.

Acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene can affect the human central nervous system (CNS), with symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, confusion, euphoria, facial numbness, and weakness. Liver, kidney, immunological, endocrine, and developmental effects have also been reported in humans.
Cancer effects. High doses of TCE can lead to tumors of the lungs, liver, and testes. Other possible cancers associated with exposure to high levels of TCE include cancer of the bladder, stomach, prostate, kidney, and pulmonary system. (Source)

As we have seen the major health problems that are caused by these toxic substances in the air, let’s move onto the most important part - The air purifying plants that are proven to remove the toxins in the air, by NASA clean air study.

In the study various plants were tested and the top ones that can purify the major toxins in the air were listed. 

Spacing for plants:
It is also said that a nasa clean air plant for every 100 sq.ft area can efficiently purify the air.

List of top plants that clean air and the VOCs they remove from the air to improve the quality of the air indoors:

S.No	Plants that remove all 6 major toxins in indoor air - Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, Xylene, Toluene and Ammonia	Plants that remove 5 major toxins - Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, Xylene and Toluene	Plants that remove 4 major toxins - Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene and Toluene	Plants that remove 3 major toxins - Formaldehyde, Xylene and Toluene	Plants that remove 2 toxins - Benzene & Formaldehyde	Plants that remove just 1 toxin form air - Formaldehyde
1.	Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')	English ivy (Hedera helix)	Devil's ivy, Pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum)	Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)	Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)	Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)
2.	Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans)	Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)	Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum) - Instead of Benzene it purifies Ammonia.	Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)	Aloe vera	Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
3.	Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)	Variegated snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')		Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')		Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
4.	Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)	Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)		Kimberley queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)		Banana (Musa acuminata)
5.		Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana')		Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
6.		Janet Craig (Dracaena fragrans "Janet Craig/Cornstalk Plant")		Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
7.		Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis)		Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.)
8.				Dumb canes (Dieffenbachia spp.)
9.				King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)
10.				Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)

Top list of air purifying indoor plants - Ranked based on the number of harmful toxins they remove from air.

These 4 Indoor air purifying plants are ranked number 1 by NASA clean air study as they remove all major toxins in indoor air: 

1. NASA clean air plants No:1 -  Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna loa’) 

2. NASA houseplants No:2 - Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) 

3. NASA air quality plants No: 3  - Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)

4. NASA approved air purifier plants No: 4 - Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Air purifying plants ranked 2 by NASA clean air study (They remove lesser number of VOCs than the above mentioned plants)

1. English ivy (Hedera helix)

2. Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

3. Variegated snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')

4. Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

5. Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana')

6. Janet Craig (Dracaena fragrans "Janet Craig/Cornstalk Plant")

7. Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis)

Air purifying indoor plants that have lesser air purifying capacity - Ranked in position 3 by NASA
1. Devil's ivy, Pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum)
2. Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum) - Instead of Benzene it purifies Ammonia. 

NASA air quality plants in position 4

1. Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

2. Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)

3. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')

4. Kimberley queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

5. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) 

6. Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

7. Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.)

8. Dumb canes (Dieffenbachia spp.)

9. King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)

10. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)

NASA houseplants ranked in position 5

1. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

2. Aloe vera 

NASA indoor air purifying plants in position 6

1. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)

2. Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)

3. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

4. Banana (Musa acuminata)