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.
- Formaldehyde - Affected Organ Systems:
Health problems caused by formaldehyde:
2. Ammonia - Affected Organ Systems:
Health problems caused by Ammonia:
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:
Health problems caused by Benzene:
(Source)
Trichloroethylene - Affected Organ Systems:
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)
It is also said that a nasa clean air plant for every 100 sq.ft area can efficiently purify the air.
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:
NASA clean air plants No:1 - Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna loa’)
NASA houseplants No:2 - Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
NASA air quality plants No: 3 - Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
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)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Variegated snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')
Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana')
Janet Craig (Dracaena fragrans "Janet Craig/Cornstalk Plant")
Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis)
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
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')
Kimberley queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.)
Dumb canes (Dieffenbachia spp.)
King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)
Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)
NASA houseplants ranked in position 5
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Aloe vera
NASA indoor air purifying plants in position 6
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Banana (Musa acuminata)
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