Which House Plant is Most Effective at Removing Indoor Air Toxins?

Research Question Data Analysis & Results

Pollution in an indoor environment can come from several common Air Quality Index Improvements
Spathiphyllum wallisii Plant
items commonly found in an indoor environment. This science 2000
Efficiencies
1309
experiment consists of the investigation of four plants (Dracaena 1242 1000

AQI Levels
1060
941

AQI Levels
trifasciata, Dracaena marginata, and the Spathiphyllum wallisii plant) 1000
500
on Which House Plant is Most Effective at Removing Indoor Air Toxins.
0
The experiment will determine the most efficient plant to use in an 0
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45
1 3 5 7 9 11131517192123252729313335373941434547
indoor environment. The experimentation includes the observation of Time Incraments Time Incraments
No Plant D. Marginata S. wallisii D. trifasciata
the efficiencies of each plant when placed in a polluted area and the Figure 2: Spathiphyllum wallisii
Figure 1: Experimental results of all trials conducted in the experiment results. This plant was the
effect it has on reducing the pollution. experiment. most efficient plant.

Methodology Interpretation & Conclusion

1. Cut holes at the bottom of a clear bucket
2. Check the air quality on the PurpleAir website and make sure the AQI is between 0-
40 before you start any trial
3. Place plant, Sensor, and incense burner under the bucket with a source of natural
light (window).
4. Light the incense burner and immediately cover the container that contains the
items in the set up with the container lid.
5. Record the air quality after sealing the environment on the PurpleAir website.
6. Check back in the website every 10 minutes for 21 times then check back every 15
minutes for 7 times, then check for every 30 minutes as much times until the AQI
measures 0-40.
7. Repeat steps 2-7 using each plants in a trial and repeat it once without a plant.
8. After all trials are conducted, compare the AQI levels, and the amount of time it
took for each plant. This will determine which plant is efficient.
• The most efficient plant was the Spathiphyllum wallisii with a total trial time of 6
hours and 23 minutes and a peak AQI of 941 US EPA PM2.5 per 10 minute
average.
• The total time and the peak AQI of the Spathiphyllum wallisii was the shortest out
of all the trials, making it the most efficient.
• The Dracaena trifasciata took 9 hours and 23 minutes with a peak AQI of 1242 US
EPA PM2.5 AQI per 10 minute average
• The Dracaena marginata took 11 hours and 32 minutes with a peak AQI of 1060
US EPA PM2.5.
• It was concluded that all plants are efficient and they effect the polluted
environment by removing the toxins significantly
• It is concluded that plants are necessary to have in an indoor environment as they
can significantly decrease the amount of toxins in an environment which can
assure the health of the individuals in the area will be less effected by pollution.