The NASA Clean Air Study[1] has been led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). Its results suggest that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome. The first list of air-filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of a clean air study published in 1989,[2][3][4] which researched ways to clean air in space stations. As well as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as all plants do, these plants also eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. The second and third lists are from B. C. Wolverton's book[5] and paper[6] and focus on removal of specific chemicals. NASA researchers suggest efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space.

Other research has shown that micro-organisms in the potting mix (soil) of a potted plant remove benzene from the air, and that some plant species also contribute to removing benzene. One of the plants in this study is the Flamingo Flower.air duct cleaning covina Most of the plants on the list evolved in tropical or subtropical environments. car air purifier / ioniser / oxygen barDue to their ability to flourish on reduced sunlight, their leaf composition allows them to photosynthesize well in household light.amcor air purifier review ^ a b c d e f g h i ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pottorff, L. Plants "Clean" Air Inside Our Homes. Colorado State University & Denver County Extension Master Gardener. ^ Wolverton, B. C., et al. (1984).

Foliage plants for removing indoor air pollutants from energy-efficient homes. Economic Botany 38(2), 224-28. ^ Wolverton, B. C., et al. A study of interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement: an interim report. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q How to Grow Fresh Air ^ a b c Wolverton, B. C. and J. D. Wolverton. (1993). Plants and soil microorganisms: removal of formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from the indoor environment. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 38(2), 11-15. ^ a b Wolverton, B. C., et al. Interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement: final report. ^ a b ASPCA ^ American Society for Horticultural Science. Indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels. plete plants removed approximately 80% of the formaldehyde within 4 hours. Control chambers pumped with the same amount of formaldehyde, but not containing any plant parts, decreased by 7.3% during the day and 6.9% overnight within 5 hours..." In reference to: Kim, J. K., et al. (2008).

Efficiency of volatile formaldehyde removal by indoor plants: contribution of aerial plant parts versus the root zone. Horticultural Science 133: 479-627.It’s possible to filter your indoor air with the right air purifying plants. The results are so proven that even NASA has concluded that the plants you choose for you home make a difference. Here are some of the best plants that will go to work making your indoor environment cleaner.One popular choice for an indoor houseplant is a Peace Lily. It’s a pretty plant even when it’s not blooming, and its flowers are pure white and can be very stunning against the dark green leaves.Peace lilies can help keep your air free of ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene, making it one of the most comprehensive indoor plants you can choose.Poor indoor air quality is a common problem, and taking the simple step of adding an indoor plant like this is one way to clean it up.An ant may need high hopes to lift a rubber tree plant, and with the larger ones you may want to enlist the help of a friend to move it to a new location, but it’s worth the effort.

There are many different subspecies of rubber plant, and each one will have similar benefits, so you can choose the one that looks best to you. The oxygen output of a rubber plant is higher than most other indoor plants, allowing it to purify more air in less time.This is one of the best plants to have in your home thanks to its ability to remove toxins like benzene and trichloroethylene. They can get pretty big if you keep repotting them, so they can fill up some unused space in your home as well.You’ll want to have a Bamboo Palm in your home if you live in a climate with harsh winters. It will help to restore some of the moisture that tends to dry up thanks to indoor heating units. They’re also good at removing formaldehyde, which could be making you sick.One way to get rid of benzene and formaldehyde in your home is to purchase a Chinese Evergreen plant. They are thought to bring good luck and were used as decoration in Asian countries long before they made it west.The longer you keep your Chinese Evergreen in your home, the better it will do at removing indoor toxins.

That’s incentive enough to keep this plant as long as possible, and when they’re this easy to care for it’s not too hard to do.You’ll want to make sure you have enough room for this plant, as it can grow very tall, but will take several years to reach its full height. This is a plant that has been cultivated for indoor use, and is relatively easy to take care of.While it didn’t show an ability to filter out benzene or trichlorethylene, Broadleaf Lady Palm did prove to be effective at soaking up formaldehyde and ammonia from the air.Spider plants are a very popular choice for an indoor plant, and their popularity only grew when studies confirmed just how good it is at freshening indoor air. They excel at removing formaldehyde, as well as xylene and toluene from the home or office.Spider plants get along just fine indoors, and their easy care means you’ll have a large margin for error, making them a good choice if you this will be one of your first indoor plants.Despite the somewhat unattractive name, Creeping Lilyturf is an evergreen plant that will look great in your home all year long, while protecting you from indoor contaminants such as formaldehyde and ammonia.

Although you’ll often see this used as an outdoor plant, it thrives indoors as well and doesn’t require much in the way of upkeep. It has a sprawling nature, hence the name, and can require a big berth, often growing wider than it is tall. It produces lavender-colored flowers that will brighten your day in the summer and fall.Don’t let the name fool you, this plant is an angel for its ability to make the air in your home more breathable. It takes care of at least four different toxic substances that could be in your home.You can use this plant as decoration by directing the vines where you want them to go. As long as they’re given something to cling to they can climb a window giving your home an earthy look.The Ficus tree is one of the more common indoor plants, and is typically found in offices across the country. The appearance resembles an outdoor tree, which is why this is one of the more popular choices.It’s good at removing toxins from the air, and has been proven to remove airborne formaldehyde and other poisons.

You may find that the plant outgrows the area you’ve designated for it, at which point it will need to be pruned down to size.Snake Plant is one of the more beautiful indoor plants, and its leaves do resemble snakes, and twist and curl as they grow upwards. This is a plant you’ll want to have in your home because it offers some of the broadest protection from indoor contaminants, and it pairs well with a Peace Lily.If you make a mistake caring for your Snake Plant, don’t worry. It’s a very forgiving plant, and as long as you make the necessary corrections it will be all right.Moth Orchids are especially good at taking care of xylene and toluene, two chemicals that generally find their way into homes due to the large number of household items that contain them.Everything from fingernail polish to glues, paint to paint thinner could have xylene and toluene in them. This means it’s extra important to have plants that can clean up the air making it safer to breath.Here’s a pretty plant that would love a spot in your home.

It’s also known as Song of India and has a very distinct look to it.This is one plant that you don’t want to miss out on, as it has been proven to be one of the best at removing several different indoor toxins, including xylene and trichloroethylene.These are some of the prettier plants you’ll see on our list, and because of their flowers are sure to be a plant you enjoy having in your home. But it’s not just pretty to look at, it’s also helping in removing half a dozen contaminants from indoor air.The flowers bloom in late summer and into fall, and their flowers can be several different colors including pink, purple, red, yellow, and white.This plant is aptly named and resembles a cornstalk, while still maintaining an attractive enough appearance to add to the decor of your home. You’ll be happy it’s there, because it will be helping to remove benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from inside your home.This makes a good starter plant for a first-timer when it comes to indoor gardening, as it can tolerate some neglect and other planting no-nos and still come out unscathed.