If you’re a fan of fresh air (and who isn’t?) a recent discovery may be cause for celebration. Research by State University of New York at Oswego’s Vadoud Niri shows certain common houseplants may provide a lower-cost option for removing volatile organic compounds from the air in homes. He found that plants can be useful for removing compounds such […]
If you’re a fan of fresh air (and who isn’t?) a recent discovery may be cause for celebration. Research by State University of New York at Oswego’s Vadoud Niri shows certain common houseplants may provide a lower-cost option for removing volatile organic compounds from the air in homes. He found that plants can be useful for removing compounds such as acetone, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air we breathe. These types of volatile organic compounds may enter a person’s home in a variety of innocuous ways, including cleaning supplies, nail polish remover, and dry cleaning. While vents and filters currently provide a means of screening out volatile organic compounds, plants could provide an alternative that is cheaper and easier to add to existing homes.
Watch this short animation on houseplants’ ability to remove volatile organic compounds from the air:
Watch Niri discuss his research into using plants to remove volatile organic compounds:
Check out more great videos from the American Chemical Society.