Spring has officially arrived and with it comes a rekindled love of being out of doors as much as possible. I grew up just south of Buffalo, New York where winter seems to last for six months of the year. Stuffy, indoor air is to be expected when you live in a place where getting snowed in is a regular event. Every year when spring starts hinting that it is about to arrive, Buffalonians throw open their windows to let the sweet scented fresh air in. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. Though I don’t live in Buffalo any longer, I still live in north east, and I do keep my windows closed for most of the fall and winter seasons.
Recently I started wondering if there is a way I can have spring fresh air in my home all year round. This is important, because air pollution is often higher indoors than out. Poor indoor air quality can have short and long term effects on our health. Indoor air is not just stagnant, but is usually laden with VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). VOC’s are known to cause or exacerbate allergies, asthma, eye, nose and throat irritations, fatigue, headaches, nervous-system disorders, respiratory congestion, sinus congestion, chemical hypersensitivity and cancer. Poor indoor air quality is also associated with SIDS- Sudden infant death syndrome.
Common Houseplants –Purifying Powerhouses
I started to research the subject and found an amazing 15 year study that was conducted in a building in Deli, India. The findings were released in 2008. One of the best ways to improve indoor air quality is through the strategic use of common house plants. Through his research, noted NASA scientist Dr. B.C. Wolverton identified three common indoor house plants that are ideal for filtering indoor air, producing readymade oxygen for healthier breathing in home, work and play environments. Generally, pets will not eat these 3 types of indoor air filter plants, but I recommend that you check with your vet before you use them in your own home.
The three plants used are:
- Areca Palm - Golden Palm - Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
- Bird's Nest - Snake Plant also known as mother-in-laws-tongue - Sansevieria trifasciata
- Pothos - Money Plant - Epipremnum aureum
Watch researcher Kamal Meattle talk about the Deli building experiment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmn7tjSNyAA
There are actually 50 plants that Dr. Wolverton recommends in his book called How to Grow Fresh Air.
Over 1,200 plants were used during the research in the building in Deli. I am not suggesting that you need the same amount. I however, intend to experiment by adding a few more plants to my own home.
Junene Hrycko
Owner Ecolibrium Cleaning