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In the late 1980s a study by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, (now PLANET Professional Landcare Network), provided both discovery and insight for healthier living throughout the world. The findings concluded that common houseplants such as Dracaenas, various Palms and Philodendrons, not only make our indoor habitat more attractive, they cleanse and revitalize our air.

Spearheaded by Dr. Bill Wolverton in 1989, the research was originally intended to find ways to purify the atmosphere for extended stays in orbiting space stations, but proved to have tremendous significance here on Earth. Dr. Wolverton has conducted more than 30 years of research as both a civilian scientist with the United States military and Senior Research Scientist with NASA, and continues to be an invaluable resource on Phytoremediation today, running his own environmental consulting firm Wolverton Environmental Services along with authorship of several landmark books on the subject.

NASA and ALCA spent two years testing various common houseplants for their ability to remove three very well known and prevalent pollutants, Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Trichloroethylene (TCE), from the air. Of the 19 plants studied, 17 are considered true houseplants, while two, Gerbera Daisies and Chrysanthemums, are more commonly used indoors as seasonal decor.

The advantage that these plants have over other flora is their distinct ability to grow beneath dense tropical canopies and survival in areas of very little light. Because of this fact the plants have excellent qualities of photosynthesis, which allows them to have greater potential to absorb gases other than just carbon dioxide, including potentially harmful ones.

Sources of Formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of unvented, fuel burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters.

Benzene is used as a constituent in motor fuels; as a solvent for fats, waxes, resins, oils, inks, paints, plastics, and rubber; as well as in the extraction of oils from seeds and nuts. Benzene is also used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyestuffs.

Trichloroethylene, is a man made chemical that does not occur naturally in the environment. It’s a pale blue nonflammable liquid with a sweet smell that evaporates easily. The chemical is used as a metal degreaser.

In homes, TCE may be found in typewriter correction fluid, paint, spot removers, carpet-cleaning fluids, metal cleaners, and varnishes. Most TCE in air comes from metal degreasing activities associated with tool and automobile production. TCE can also enter ground water and surface water from industrial discharges, or from improper disposal of industrial wastes at landfills. Trichloroethylene has been found in many drinking water supplies in the United States.

While NASA found that some of the plants were better than others for absorbing these common pollutants, all of them had properties that were useful in improving overall indoor air quality (IAQ).

Note that all of the greenery on the list should be readily available from your local nursery!

· Dracaena fragrans, `Massangeana’
· Dracaena deremensis, `Janet Craig’
· Dracaena deremensis, `Warneckii’
· Dracaena marginata, ‘Red-Edged’ dracaena
· Philodendron scandens, ‘Oxycardium’, Heart Leaf philodendron
· Philodendron domesticum, ‘Elephant Ear’ philodendron
· Philodendron selloum, Ficus benjamina, ‘Weeping Fig’
· Epipiremnum aureum, ‘Golden Pothos’
· Hedera helix, ‘English Ivy’
· Chlorophytum comosum, ‘Spider Plant’
· Spathiphyllum, ‘Peace Lily’
· Aglaonema modestum, ‘Chinese Evergreen’
· Chamaedorea sefritzii, ‘Bamboo or Reed Palm’
· Sansevieria trifasciata, ‘Snake Plant’

For an indoor space of roughly 2,000 square feet, the study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of foliage to help improve IAQ. I’m feeling better already. . .

Original NASA Final Report re: Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.