Plants help fight pollution EMPLOYEES WHO work in buildings made of man-made ma- terials inhale approximately 300 contaminants every day — benzene, formaldehyde, trichloreothylene (TCE) among them, Where do these poisonous chemicals come from? Many seemingly harmless materials or items found in the household or workplace emit toxins in the form of gases. Some sources include latex paints, solvents, rugs, and upholstery. As to the effect on human health, reports show that disorders may range from headaches, respi- ratory irritation and fatigue to nausea and dizziness. But current research is pointing to an effective, inexpensive solu- tion, says the U.S. Garden Coun- cil, a national organization of firms and professionals leading the lawn and garden industry. Council members point to the work of scientist William C. Wolverton, who directs NASA‘s environmental and research department at the John C. Stennis Space Centre in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. His findings reveal that common houseplants clean polluted indoor air by absorbing toxins through their vascular systems, roots, and soil microbes. Wolverton’s study of the air- filtering properties of plants began in 1974 with research into using plar‘s to produce water and ox- ygen for astronauts on long trips. In the most recent experiment, he tested the ability of 14 different plants to remove chemical toxins from the air. Science News reports that Wolverton placed each plant for 24 hours in a sealed area contain- ing tainted air. The rate of pollu- tion varied from as much as 30 parts per million (ppm) to what Wolverton said could be found in a house, below one ppm. While Wolver:on found that all the plants cleaned the air, he noted that some were better at filtering certain pollutants than others, which meant that a wide variety of plants must be used to effectively fight all the indoor pollutants. For example, tests revealed that English ivy filtered 90% of benzene. but only [1% of photo submitted THE FRAGRANCE of flowers creates an extra dimension in the garden. Hyacinths are one of the most powertully scented bulb flowers. Not only their bright colors can cheer up a room but their divine fragrance, too. trichloreothylene (TCE). Potted mums took care of the TCE, filtering 41% of it, along with 61% of the formaldehyde, and 53% of the benzene. Like the ivy, Ficus removed a small amount of TCE, but did much better at ridding the air of formaldehyde. According to the study data, plants with low light requirements scavenged 20% of pollutants through their leaves. Cleanup of the remaining 80% was the work of roots and soil microbes, which feed on poliu- tants. That, says Wolverton, in- dicates why it is important to keep rocks and f!ow-hanging leaves from shielding the soit. Put simply, his prescription for curing indoor air pollution {known as ‘‘sick building syn- drome"’): Use different kinds of houseplants extensively throughout the house or office. Experts interested in future trends say the NASA report’s conclusions will be significant for environmentalists, architects, and community planners seeking in- sights and answers regarding ways to improve air quality in the home and workplace. If Wolverton’s ideas catch on, expect to see more offices, stores, malls, and houses designed with plant placement in mind, which will affect. window size and loca- tion, the lighting system, and number of lights. But for homeowners and office managers, now is the best time to begin cleaning your indoor air. No amount of physical exercise and attention to nutrition can offset the effects of contamination; the only way to preserve our health and well-being is to filter out the toxins. 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