You're in the Reading Room
Selected Section: Cooling & HeatingAging in Place • Appliances • Bathrooms • Cooling & Heating • Flooring • Kitchens • Patio & Deck • Painting • Planning • Roofing • Siding • Utilities • Windows
Top 10 Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is often a concern in winter, when houses are closed up tight against the cold; but, even during the cooling season, indoor air quality can be a concern. Modern houses are being built more airtight than ever, and concerned about energy savings, even owners of older houses are taking the trouble to seal cracks, add extra insulation, and are replacing older doors and windows with new airtight, energy efficient versions. Houses thus sealed may be more energy efficient, but they can also present air quality concerns year 'round.
As it happens, many common building and other interior products can release a number of nasty toxins into the air in our homes, primarily volatile organic compounds (VOCs), one of the nastiest of which is formaldehyde (yup, it ain't just for science projects). Sources of VOCs can include paints, plywood, particle board, plastics (including the plastics in your computer and other home office equipment), and synthetic fabrics such as may be in your carpet, curtains or upholstery. The more tightly sealed the home, the more offgassing (release) of VOCs could be a problem.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher -- up to ten times higher -- indoors. Why worry? Because, generally speaking, they ain't good for ya! According to the EPA, health effects from exposure can include "eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system." Further, they say that some VOCs "can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans."
So, what to do? Many building and interior products are now available with low or no levels of VOCs, and if you're considering a remodel you might want to research and cost-out your options. But, not everyone has the luxury to do a complete "green" makeover. Fortunately, you have other options as close as your local greenhouse. And you don't even need a green thumb.
Did you know that plants can absorb some pollutants in household air right
through their leaves? Dr. Bill Wolverton at NASA's Stennis Space center
calls plants the "lungs and kidneys" of a home, and he discovered
that certain plants are very good at absorbing and breaking down VOCs. Wolverton
and others in research over a twenty-five year period tested over fifty
houseplants for their benefit to interior air quality. Alan Berman, author
of Your Naturally Healthy Home, gives us his top ten:
Areca palm
Reed palm
Dwarf date palm
Boston fern
Janet Craig dracaena
English ivy
Australian sword fern
Peace Lily
Rubber plant
Weeping fig
Don't worry that you're in for a labor-intensive program of care for them, and don't worry too much about light. Many of these plants are easy to care for and do well in low light. Just try to keep them out of drafts, because drafts cut down on their effectiveness. For the most beneficial effects, Berman says, shoot for at least one plant for every 10 square yards of floor space (with an 8 to 9-foot ceiling). For an average 20 to 25-square yards of living room space, shoot for 2 to 3 plants. By the way, the plus of plants in your home, especially in the winter months, is that they also help to keep your home's humidity in the comfortable range.
We would add a note of caution if you have pets or small children: some houseplants can have toxic effects if ingested by pets or people. Check with your vet on which plants can be hazardous to your pets. For the effects of any materials and plants on your and/or your kids, know that everybody reacts differently to materials and plants in their environment: if you have any questions regarding matters affecting your health, we strongly encourage you to check with your physician.
For a brief article about VOCs and the sources and potential health effects of these and other indoor pollutants, check out the EPA website, An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. You may have heard about Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). While the term is generally used to describe conditions in offices and other public buildings, the syndrome can also be experienced in residential buildings. To learn more, check out the EPA's factsheet: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
›› You're in The Reading Room: Cooling & Heating
Also in this section:
• Simple Air Conditioner Maintenance That
Saves You Money! - Read article