Want to Breathe A Little Easier? The Best House Plants For Improving Air Quality

Ah! It feels so good to be home!

After a long day at work, it is such a pleasure to finally kick off your heels and relax a bit.

Grabbing a bite to eat, catching up on mail or spending a little on hobbies–life can seem so sweet.

But, while you’re innocently lounging on the couch reading a juicy novel, watching your favorite

TV show, polishing your nails, doodling with markers or scrapbooking–you may think you are

safe, but you are not!

Hundreds of unwanted invaders are lurking in your indoor air environment.

You can’t see–or even smell them–in most cases, but they are defiinitely there–invisible yet

potentially harmful chemicals from our products, materials and furnishings.

Want to Breathe A Little Easier? The Best House Plants For Improving Air Quality

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, organic chemicals are commonly found in

a variety of products and furnishings which emit chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands including paints and lacquers,

cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and

printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and

adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products.

Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic,

degreaser and hobby supplies.

VOCs are also found in paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays;

cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive

products; and dry-cleaned clothing.

Fuels are also made up of organic chemicals.

Want to Breathe A Little Easier? The Best House Plants For Improving Air Quality

Yikes!

They’re in practically everything we use and live with each day!

All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some

degree, when they are stored.

Common VOCs include formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene, benzene and trichloroethylene–just to

name a few.

These VOCs are the leading cause of sick building syndrome, a health threat that leads to headaches,

skin irritations, hypersensitivity and more.

According to the EPA, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including

level of exposure and length of time exposed.

Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are

among the symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics.

As you see, VOCs can be found in all kinds of buildings and environments–not just your home.

House Plants to the Rescue

Want to Breathe A Little Easier? The Best House Plants For Improving Air Quality

I have always loved house plants for the beautiful atmosphere they create in an environment, but

did you also know that indoor plants are not only great decor, but they can significantly improve the

air we breathe?

In addition to disposing of unneeded household chemicals, filling your home with air-filtering plants

helps aid in the creation of fresh air.

In fact, there are dozens of plants that freshen our space and combat common indoor chemicals, but some

plants do so better than others.

Want to Breathe A Little Easier? The Best House Plants For Improving Air Quality

ProFlowers decided to uncover which indoor plants make your home the healthiest by comparing scientific

studies from NASA.

The results are illustrated in their handy infographic below.

It also includes vital information on what these indoor air chemicals are and why it’s important for your health

to avoid them.

See the full guide below or here.

The Best Plants For Improving Air Quality

 

What are your favorite air filtering house plants?

Share your thoughts and comments with us?