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If you live in the big city or suburbia, pollution is a major concern, especially air pollution. Though most of us acknowledge that pollution is prevalent outdoors (i.e. SMOG), what many of our Sahelis may not realize is that there are a number of harmful chemicals that we breathe daily INDOORS as well!
The furnishings within our homes and offices, and some of the materials used in the construction of buildings, can emit chemicals such as formaldehyde (found in foam insulation, carpet, paints, plywood, glues, grocery bags and more), benzene (found in inks, detergents, plastics/rubber, synthetic fibers and more), and trichloroethylene (used in dry cleaning/carpet cleaning, adhesives, paint removers, etc). Not to mention the carbon dioxide we exhale with every breath we take!
What can we do to clean the air we breathe without buying fancy air purifying machines within our homes? Hit up your local flower district or nursery and buy some PLANTS, PLANTS, PLANTS! Not only do plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen (something we all learned in elementary science), but NASA researchers have found that there are specific plants that actually filter out other harmful toxins as well!
CitySaheli has put together a list of the top air purifying plants to help you create a green, clean and natural indoor living space for yourself. As a rule of thumb, keep one 6 inch potted plant per 100 sq. feet of indoor living space.
Top 15 Air Purifying Plants
1. English Ivy
2. Golden Pothos
3. Peace Lily
4. Palms (Bamboo, Dwarf Date, Lady, Areca)
5. Dracaena (red-edged, cornstalk, janet craig, warneck)
6. Mother-in-law’s Tongue
7. Gerbera Daisy
8. Boston Fern
9. Corn Plant
10. Spider Plant
11. Weeping Fig
12. Philodendron (heartleaf, selloum, elephant ear)
13. Chrysanthemum
14. Chinese Evergreen
15. Marginata
*** Before purchasing any plants be sure to thoroughly research them, as some may be poisonous if consumed and therefore should not be placed in homes with children and/or pets.
1 Comments For This Post
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This is a great list!
When I moved I got a fabulous book called “How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office” that I would highly recommend.
The book lists not only many of the plants above but also how easy they are to keep alive and the likelyhood that they will attract insects (key!).
BY Mint on June 25th, 2010 at 9:17 pm