Do Houseplants Really Filter Your Air?
Plants are beautiful, they give us food, shade and breathable air, but there is no magic in them. Yes, rainforests are vital to our ecosystem because they filter carbon from the air and create oxygen, but any suggestion that houseplants can be used to filter toxins from the air in our homes is, as this report points out in The Atlantic , a senseless desire. … This is why you should buy plants as decoration or to improve your personal health, but not to purify the air.
Why indoor plants can’t filter the air effectively
In nature, plants do keep our ecosystem healthy by oxygenating the air as a carbon sink and even absorbing some pollutants , but the effect is definitely not diminished – according to the Science Alert news site, to actually filter out toxins from the environment. the air you may need “10 to 1000 [plants] for every square meter of your living space.” Unless you live in a greenhouse, this is not a very realistic option.
The idea that plants filter and purify air in an enclosed space was popularized in the 1980s when NASA scientistBill Wolverton conducted a study on the ability of certain houseplants to remove VOCs from the air in an enclosed environment. This discovery was developed with an eye on astronauts who live in enclosed compartments for extended periods of time, but is now often used as evidence as to why you should buy more plants to plant around your home. As engineering professor Dr. Michael Waring told The Atlantic , the 1989 study’s findings do not apply to the average household:
“Wolverton measured whether indoor plants can remove VOCs from a sealed laboratory environment. But a house is not a sealed chamber. It has open windows and doors, drafts and leaks, and a lot of other mess. “
If you are a scientist or astronaut stuck in a sealed chamber for several hours, it might be a good idea to bring one or two plants with you. If you are concerned about fresh air in your home, open a window.
You should still keep plants nearby for many other reasons.
Instead of buying certain plants in the mistaken hope that they will purify your air, buy them for the psychological and emotional benefits they provide. Living in a house filled with plants can help reduce stress and increase productivity, according to Healthline . The scent of plants like mint or lavender not only creates a more relaxing atmosphere, but caring for the plants can also improve your mood. CNBC reported a Japanese study that found that regular employees who took breaks to tend their plants experienced a decrease in heart rate and anxiety levels.
Of course, some of the sites touting plants’ ability to help us relieve stress are also sites touting the use of plants to improve air quality . And while there is certainly nothing wrong with filling your home with greenery and flowers, just remember that plants are great, but they are not magical, so buy pansies and an air purifier.