Conventional wisdom has long held that plants purify the air by recycling oxygen and boosting humidity by transpiration—just look at the rainforests for a large-scale example.

A NASA study initiated in 1983 has expanded this basic premise. While doing research using plants to clean the atmosphere inside space stations NASA scientists discovered that many common interior plants help reduce indoor pollutants. Among these pollutants are carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Benzene is present in tobacco smoke, plastics, gasoline, inks, paint, detergents, rubber, and synthetic fibers. Formaldehyde is present in pressed wood, foam insulation, carpeting, paper towels, and many household cleaners. Trichloroethylene is present in dry-cleaning solutions, ink, paints, varnishes, lacquers, and adhesives. In other words, in our modern world we are constantly assaulted with these toxic chemicals.

The study “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement”was conducted by Dr. Bill Wolverton, a senior research scientist at NASA and a report was released with its conclusions. Dr. Wolverton was able to demonstrate that interior plants act as air filters, removing trace organic pollutants from the air in energy efficient buildings. The plant root-soil zone appears to be the most effective area for removing the volatile organic chemicals (VOC). This study found that some types of interior plants were more efficient at removing the VOC’s but all plants have some beneficial effect.

Dr. B.C. Wolverton writes in his bookHow to Grow Fresh Air :
“Science is now catching up with what gardeners have known for decades: that by growing plants we can relieve stress, while helping to clean the environment. A growing body of research shows that cultivating plants indoors and outdoors may be the best medicine available for improving mental and physical well-being at any age. Studies of interactions between plants and people have provided overwhelming evidence that plants have a measurable beneficial effect on people and the spaces they inhabit. Gardening in general has become one of the most popular leisure activities, and the cultivation of houseplants in particular has developed an enthusiastic following.

Plants not only add beauty to a room, but also make it a friendly, inviting place to live or work: they appear to have a calming, spiritual effect on most people. This perhaps explains why plants play such an important role at key stages in our lives, such as weddings, funerals, periods of illness, and birthdays. People feel relaxed when they are near or tending to living plants. Businesses install interior landscaping to increase worker-productivity and reduce absenteeism. Top hotels, restaurants, and other commercial premises use plants to help attract customers.”

Some of the research and studies Dr. Wolverton is referring to can be read on GREEN PLANTS FOR GREEN BUILDINGS’ wesite(www.gpgb.org) and also at www.plants-for-people.org .

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