18 indoor plants that clean the air, according to NASA

In 1989, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), conducted a study to find plants that could filter and clean the air in the enclosed environment of space stations. The study was submitted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, Anne Johnson, and Keith Bounds.

“Attached at the end of the article, you will find the original NASA study that contains the detailed measurements and effectiveness of each indoor plant.”

The conclusion of the study was that ordinary plants, which we can easily find at our neighborhood nursery store, can clean and filter the air in our homes and offices.

Modern homes and offices, in order to avoid heat loss in the winter and cold climate in the summer, are as sealed as possible,. This has the effect of preventing the circulation and renewal of the indoor air in the room. At the same time, many modern construction materials emit hazardous substances. The result is the so-called Sick Building Syndrome.

While it was already known that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, it also became known that they can remove hazardous substances such as trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde from the atmosphere.

Formaldehyde is mainly found in building materials such as chipboard and insulating foams. Benzene is a common solvent found in paints and oil paints. Trichloroethylene is found in paints, adhesives and varnishes.

NASA and ALCA spent two years studying 19 indoor plants (houseplants).

Of these 19 plants, 17 are considered indoor plants (houseplants) and 2 daisy gerberas and chrysanthemums are used as seasonal ornamentals.

NASA and ALCA discovered that some plants are better than others for absorbing these chemicals.

The list of recommended plants

Heartleaf philodendron

(Philodendron scandens ‘oxycardium’)
Warning
Poisonous: Whole plant. Intense irritation of the mucous membrane, producing swelling of the tongue of the lips and palate.