How Do Spider Plants Absorb VOCs?
WouterIf you are a fan of plants, you may have heard about spider plants. These plants are easy to grow and maintain, and can help clean your air. They can even remove formaldehyde from your air.
While you can certainly buy these plants, you can also create your own. Several studies have shown that certain plants are better at absorbing specific VOCs than others.
Spider plants are known to have the best VOC removal properties. Specifically, they can absorb carbon monoxide, xylene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide.
These plants are also very forgiving. They can be left in a room, even without a lot of maintenance. They have resilient leaves that do not break easily. They are especially effective in areas where there is high levels of benzene and toluene. These compounds can linger in older homes for years.
One study from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) found that spider plants were the best at removing formaldehyde. In fact, they were able to remove 95% of the chemical from the air in a 24 hour period.
Researchers have found that spider plants also absorb nitrogen dioxide, which is a common VOC in homes. They can also remove trichloroethylene, a chemical that is often used as a fragrance in household products.
The benefits of plants in the home are growing. They can reduce the need for ventilation, and they can help you breathe cleaner air at night. They also can help keep your pets healthy.
