Air pollution ranks among the top five environmental risks to public health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), breathing polluted air can drastically affect your lungs … gut … energy levels … and mood! Despite what many of us assume, the most polluted air we encounter is very likely the air within our own homes.
Studies show that indoor air quality can be far more hazardous than the air outdoors, in part because indoor environments allow contaminants to accumulate. Many of us live and work in environments saturated with high concentrations of these contaminants.
The Common Air Contaminants Lurking Inside Your Home
Data from the EPA shows that the average American adult spends 90 percent of their time inside, where they may be playing host to a multitude of dangerous air contaminants. The most common household air contaminants include…
- Carbon dioxide
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Xylene
- Ammonia
These dangerous toxins come from seemingly innocuous sources, like paper products … furniture … carpets … paint … and even dryer sheets!
Scientists have conducted extensive research to determine how these contaminants affect human health. They found that exposure to common airborne contaminants can lead to a condition called “sick building syndrome,” symptoms of which include…
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Eye, mouth, ear, nose, and generalized skin irritation
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Impaired mental function
Fortunately, there’s an effective— and aesthetically pleasing—way to clean the air in your home!
A Genius Solution to Indoor Air Pollution
This genius solution comes from an unexpected place: NASA. While seeking a way to filter air in space stations, scientists at NASA found that certain household plants can absorb large quantities of common air contaminants, thereby purifying the air around them! One plant in particular, the Peace Lily, had a remarkable capacity for absorbing these contaminants.
Research reveals that the Peace Lily can absorb trichloroethylene … formaldehyde … xylene … and ammonia! Those are four of the most prevalent toxins found in indoor air supplies. Chances are, you’re inhaling them right now. Adding a Peace Lily to your home is a remarkably simple way to filter your air and improve your health and wellbeing.
7 Plants Shown to Improve Air Quality
If you aren’t drawn to the look of a Peace Lily, good news—all plants improve air quality! These 7 plants, however, have been shown to have an especially significant effect on air quality:
- Garden mum
- Spider plant
- Dracaena
- Ficus
- Boston fern
- Snake plant
- Aloe vera
The more plants you have in your home, the better. One thing pet owners should keep in mind is that the leaves of some plants—including a few on the list above—can be toxic when ingested. Be sure to keep any that could harm your pets safely out of their reach.
