How Effective Are Plants at Purifying the Home Air?
Most people don’t realize how much pollution is in the indoor environment of buildings, where we spend most of our time. For example, many of the products we use to clean and freshen our homes, schools, and workplaces add hidden toxins to the air. “There’s no smell in the air,” says Anne Hicks, a pediatric pulmonary specialist at the University of Alberta in Canada. “If you can smell it, there’s a chemical in the air that’s getting into your nose. It’s all air pollution, regardless of whether it smells good or bad,” she adds. “Indoor air pollution is very high, and it’s unknown to what extent, because my neighbor’s house has different air pollution than mine,” Hicks says. Indoor air pollution is extremely complex, messy, and often beyond people’s control. For example, road traffic produces nitrogen dioxide, while moisture and structural problems in buildings can lead to rot. Expensive Solution Air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filt...