Sure, that potted fern is pretty, but can it really spruce
up the air quality in your home? Studies by scientists at NASA, Pennsylvania
State University, the University of Georgia and other respected institutions
suggest that it can.
Plants are notoriously adept at absorbing gases through
pores on the surface of their leaves. It's this skill that facilitates
photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy and carbon
dioxide into chemical energy to fuel growth.
But scientists studying the air-purification capacities of
indoor plants have found that plants can absorb many other gases in addition to
carbon dioxide, including a long list of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Benzene (found in some plastics, fabrics, pesticides and cigarette smoke) and
formaldehyde (found in some cosmetics, dish detergent, fabric softener and
carpet cleaner) are examples of common indoor VOCs that plants help eliminate.