photo courtesy of NASA

"Low levels of chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can be removed from indoor environments by plant leaves alone, while higher concentrations of numerous toxic chemicals can be removed by filtering indoor air through the plant roots surrounded by activated carbon."

"The carbon absorbs large quantities of toxic chemicals and retains them until the plant roots and associated microorganisms degrade and assimilate these chemicals."

Dr. William Wolverton, NASA's principal investigator

According to the EPA, "employees who work in buildings of manmade materials inhale over 300 contaminants every day."

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BENEFITS - PLANTSCAPE INDUSTRY RESEARCH

The Plantscape Industry has made compelling plant benefit claims:

• Plants decrease employee stress and enhance productivity by 12%
  
• Plants contribute oxygen in"Green Building" programs.
  
• Plants in the workplace help attract and retain today's selective employee.
  
• The aesthetic value of plantscaping is the primary ROI for plant investments
  
• Plantscaping helps create energy efficiency without Sick Building Syndrome.

NASA RESEARCH

Research undertaken by the NASA proves plants clean indoor air of VOCs.

Over 25 years ago, NASA became aware of the potential indoor air pollution problems in manned space shuttles and space stations.  These concerns culminated in a two-year research program aimed at finding out whether plants in a sealed, controlled environment could eliminate common household and work-related pollutants, such as formaldehyde, benzene and TCE.

Researchers found that one potted plant per 100 square feet of floor space can help clean the air in the average home or office.  In more sophisticated approaches, new building designs can incorporate plant-filtering systems built into atriums, lobbies and walkways.

BIOREGENERATION

Bombarded with toxic fumes from carpets, furniture, office cleaning products, and copy machines, the average employee is inundated with toxic chemicals indoors.

Virtually all indoor tropical plants are powerful removers of indoor air pollutants. The following chart lists the plants in the NASA study that most effectively removed pollutants in the air.