Surrounding yourself with indoor plants will do more than just add a little color to a room. New research shows plants may also fight cancer-causing pollution.
From toxic petrol fumes to other pollutants, a new study has revealed plants may be able to remove toxins from the air we breathe indoors.
The University of Technology Sydney led the study and claims when put to the test, the indoor plants were able to get rid of 97% of the most toxic compounds in the air in just eight hours.
Researchers overseeing the study say the more concentrated the toxins in the air, the faster the plants worked to remove them.
“Not only can plants remove the majority of pollutants from the air in a matter of hours, they remove the most harmful petrol-related pollutants from the air most efficiently,” said bioremediation researcher and associate professor Fraser Torpy in a statement.
In response to the university’s findings, toxicology expert Christine Padovan said additional third- party testing would be needed to better understand the impact on our health, adding, “The only science-backed technology that has been verified to purify the air from VOCs, smoke, bacteria, virus germs, even CV-19 and even mold is NASA’s ActivePure technology.”
“There is no question that indoor air quality can harm us from the products we use and outdoor air pollutants coming in,” she said. “Plants are great and do some air clearing, but a whole wall of plants with the potential for mold issues from the constant moisture in the air is not a viable option for homeowners.”
