The Most Effective Types of Indoor Plants for Clean Indoor Air 1

The Most Effective Types Plants for Clean Indoor Air.

Najeeb, Maryam

Harrison High School

The Most Effective Types of Indoor Plants for Clean Indoor Air 2

Plants are known to purify indoor air by absorbing common toxins in the atmosphere. However,

there are many plant species out there and they each have different characteristics that play a role in the

way they detoxify the air and renew it by the process of phytoremediation. Plants are essential indoor and

in houses because they reduce common toxins found inside homes or indoor environments. NASA lists

three common types of chemicals found in indoor environments. some of the most common chemicals

found in indoor environments is Benzene; a chemical most found in paint, rubber, ink, plastic, and

detergents. It is known to cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, and in some cases, bone

marrow disease. The second chemical is Trichloroethylene (TCE); found in lacquers, varnish, printing

inks, and adhesive. Lastly, Formaldehyde; a very commonly found chemical in indoor environments. It's

found in paper bags, pressed wood, paper products, tissues and tissue paper, most cleaning products,

cigarette smoke, and cooking fuels. All these chemicals have been proven to be removed by certain

plants.

In 1989 NASA scientists developed a research study about indoor plants purifying indoor air and

removing toxins. Scientists conducted and experiment by exposing common house plants to common air

pollutants. The air pollutants were Benzene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde. Scientists start by

using a sealed Plexiglas chamber, in which they will use to put the plant in and inject the chemicals into

the chamber. These chambers were provided with equal light source for each of the plants, along with a

copper tube in which water flows through to maintain a cool chamber and prevent overheating. Scientists

observed the amount of toxins each plant absorbed. As a result, NASA scientists found out that some

plants can remove up to 70% of the toxins in the environment in which they were in. The most effective

part of the plant that removes toxins is the soil and root area. The leaves are also a very effective part in

the plant to remove toxins. However, different plants differ in the speed and the toxins they remove.

Some remove more toxins then others and some remove toxins other plants can’t remove. Each plant

differs in the way they do this because the root and soil area of each plant consist of different bacteria that

help biodegrade the toxins into a food source. They remove toxins by the soil absorbing the air pollutants
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and biodegrading them into a food source for the plant. This process is called phytoremediation. The

research summary in NASA’s research states, “The plant root-soil zone appears to be the most effective

area for removing volatile organic chemicals. Therefore, maximizing air exposure to the plant root-soil

should be considered when placing plants in buildings for best air filtration.” (Wolverton, Johnson,

Bounds 18).

Snake plant or Mother-in-Law's-Tongue (Dracaena trifasciata) is a very effective plant at removing

chemicals from the atmosphere. Snake plant contains several bacteria's in the soil such as Bacillus,

Curtobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Micrococcus, Myxococcus, and Pseudomonas. These are

all bacteria that biodegrade air pollutants/toxins such as Benzene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde

and as a result, these biodegraded toxins are then converted as a food source to feed the plant and bio

regenerate the carbon dioxide by the roots growing using the process of phytoremediation. This makes the

plant not only capable of purifying air, but also capable of using toxins and converting them into a food

source once root growth occurs. Snake Plant is part of the Dracaena family which is one of the most

effective plant families that clean indoor air. According to Mark D., “Eliminating the pollutants with

dracaena will make breathing easier, fight colds, remove airborne contaminants, and improve overall

health.” (Dracaena - why is Dracaena good for indoors? article) Snake plants are especially suitable for

air borne allergens, for it constantly renews air and overrides dust mites and unwanted particles and

maintains a fresh environment. Snake plant also convert carbon dioxide into oxygen the most during the

night which makes it suitable for bedrooms. According to Frankie, Rathisa, Sulakhe, M., & Attih, E., “Of

all the different oxygen producing plants, this one is unique since it converts a lot of CO2 (carbon

dioxide) into O2 (oxygen) at night, making it ideal to have several in your bedroom.” (Snake Plant:

Everything You Need To Know article). This plant removes a significant amount of toxins in the

environment in addition, it humidifies the air. In the NASA study, the Snake Plant, with a surface area of

3,474cm2 removed 9,727 microorganisms from the environment in which trichloroethylene was injected,

28,710 microorganisms was removed in which the chemical in which Benzene was injected, and 31,294

microorganisms was removed in which the chemical Formaldehyde was injected. Both plants used in the
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experiment for Formaldehyde and Benzene had a surface area of 2,871cm2 . Snake plant doesn't only

serve the feature of cleaning indoor air but is also very low maintenance. It doesn't require much light,

and it doesn't require a lot of watering.

Marginata plant (Dracaena Marginata) is part of the dracaena family, meaning it does not only remove

indoor air toxins such as Trichloroethylene, Benzene, and Formaldehyde, but it also gives humidity to the

air. According to Mark D., “Plants typically release about 97% of the water they take in.” (Dracaena -

why is Dracaena good for indoors? article). Marginata plant are also easy to maintain, requiring low to

medium light, and watering only when topsoil is dry. Bacteria found in Marginata soil is Arthrobacter,

Bacillus, and Leuconostoc. These bacteria’s help in the process of phytoremediation. In the NASA study,

Marginata plant removed 27,292 microorganisms in the environment in which Trichloroethylene was

injected, 30,324 microorganisms in which Benzene was injected, and 20,469 microorganisms in which

Formaldehyde was injected. Each trial in which Marginata plant was used, the plant leaf surface area was

7,581cm2. This plant is easy to take care of, and it’s also very capable to remove common toxins that are

commonly found in indoor environments.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is a highly effective plant that significantly decreases indoor air

pollutants. Its soil contains bacteria’s such as Bacillus, Aureobacterium, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, and

Streptomyces which help to absorb the air pollutants. In the NASA trial for the Peace Lily, the plant

removed 41,392 microorganisms from the chamber in which Benzene was injected, and 27,064

microorganisms in which trichloroethylene was injected. The plants used in the trial for Benzene and

Trichloroethylene had a leaf surface area of 7,960cm2. In the trial with the chemical of Formaldehyde, the

Peace Lily, with a leaf surface area of 8,509cm2 removed 16,167 microorganisms. According to Dr. Asha

Jyoti, “As per studies were done by NASA it was found that pace lily keeps surrounding air clean by

removing Benzene and Formaldehyde from the environment.” (Peace Lily [Spathiphyllum wallisii]:

indoor air purifying plant & health benefits article). Peace Lilies provide the indoor environment with

clean air by absorbing the air pollutants through the roots and soil and producing oxygen. They also use
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the process of phytoremediation. Peace Lilies occasionally bloom white flowers that brighten up the

space.

This literature review was conducted to analyze the different aspects of houseplants and to analyze

which one is most effective for indoor air quality. Plants can override toxins by absorbing them and

benefitting the plants by converting these toxins into a food source to feed the plant using the process of

phytoremediation. All in all, plants that absorb toxins come from different plant families, each with

unique characteristics that make them differ from each other, providing people with different

characteristics supporting their needs. Snake plants provide the environment with clean air, constant air

circulation, removal of air toxins such as Benzene, Trichloroethylene, and Formaldehyde at a significant

rate, and removal of airborne allergen particles. Marginata plant is good for removing the three common

indoor air pollutants, provide humidity and are easy to maintain. The last plant, which is the Peace Lily,

decreases common indoor air pollutants, keeps a clean surrounding area, and can last for years. They

require low maintenance and is easy to take care of. All in all, these three plants have many benefits that

could promote indoor air quality.

Further research is needed to further examine the other health benefits these plants can provide. Some

of the plants listed above can carry health benefits such as sharpening focus and improving mood. Further

research is also needed to examine the other different types of plants that have similar characteristics that

can help clean indoor air and are most suitable for indoor environments.

REFERENCES:

1. Wolverton, B., Johnson, A., & Bounds, K. (1989). NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS).

Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077

2. D, M. (2016, January 12). Dracaena – Why is dracaena good for indoors? Retrieved September

03, 2020, from https://www.westcoastnurseries.com/dracaena-why-is-dracaena-good-for-indoors/

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3. Frankie, Rathisa, Sulakhe, M., & Attih, E. (2018, March 17). Snake Plant: Everything You

Need To Know. Retrieved September 03, 2020,

from https://www.rollingnature.com/blogs/news/snake-plant-everything-you-need-to-know

4. Jyoti, D. (2018, August 31). Peace lily air purification plant & health benefits. Retrieved

September 09, 2020, from https://foodthesis.com/peace-lily-air-purification-plant-health-

benefits/