Between work, home and other buildings, most of the people are indoors about 90 percent of the time.

This means that indoor air quality is one of the most critical environmental factors in human health. But,
a 2017 EPA report asserts that indoor air quality is among the very worst of human health threats. The
agency’s research finds that indoor air pollution is typically 200 to 500 percent more polluted than
outdoor air, and it’s even worse in many buildings.

Indoor air pollutants are linked to a range of health conditions, such as asthma, allergies, increased
COPD symptoms, fatigue, headaches, skin rashes, and a number of other health issues. Indoor air
pollutants can include everything from cleaning and craftworks chemicals, VOC emissions from modern
synthetic construction and furniture finishes, grooming products, particulates from cooking and many
others.

The Lung Institute suggests that air quality in building interiors should be managed in order protect
human health. So what’s a low cost way to make a difference? Adding indoor plants.

Indoor plants are a natural measure you can take to help improve indoor air quality at work or home
without any significant interior overhauls. Plants generate the oxygen that we humans breathe, and
absorb the CO2 that we emit. This dual benefit that plants deliver to humans makes them an ideal
resource for increasing workplace air quality.

NASA published its own study on the effects of indoor plants for cleaning the air in space stations back in
1989. The research found that all plants contribute to cleaning indoor air. However, the study
discovered that some plants are more effective in helping eliminate certain chemical contaminants, such
as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.

Furthermore, poor air quality can cause a number of health effects that can negatively impact workers’
productivity and attendance. It can have a direct effect on both physical and mental functioning and
overall efficiency. For employees with chronic respiratory conditions, improving air quality in the
workplace can be a more serious need.

But fixing air quality starts with picking the right plants for your space.

https://time.com/5105027/indoor-plants-air-quality/

Short-term exposure to air pollution can cause: Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause:

 Coughing  Respiratory diseases (asthma, emphysema)

Short-term exposure to air pollution can cause: Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause:

 Wheezing/difficulty breathing

 Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat  Cardiovascular damage

 Headache  Harm to liver, spleen, and blood

 Dizziness  Nervous system damage

 Fatigue  Cancer

 Birth defects

 Death

https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/air-quality/effects-air-pollution