12 Air-filtering House Plants (safe for pets)

The researchers at NASA have put together a list of around 30 air-filtering plants for the home, filtering out benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene, and ammonia.

Where do these chemicals come from and what do they do?

Benzene

Benzene is among the 20 most commonly used chemicals in the USA. It is mainly as a starting ngredient in other chemicals, in plastics, rubbers, dyes, drugs, pesticides, detergents and lubricants. It naturally occurs in crude oil and gasoline, which means it appears in vehicle exhaust smoke, as well as cigarette smoke.

It is formed from natural processes, such as volcanoes and forest fires too, but exposure is higest from human activities.

Symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, eye irritation, dizziness and confusion.

Formaldehyde

Found in synthetic fabrics, paper bags, waxed bags, insulation, plywood panelling and more. It is released from these materials into the air around us.

It also occurs naturally in the environment, produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes.

Symptoms associated with short term exposure include nose, mouth and throat irritation, and swelling of the larynx and lungs.

Trichloroethylene

Found in printing inks, lacquers, adhesives, paints and paint remover.

Symptoms include dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headaches, and dowsiness.

Xylene and toluene

Found in the leather and paint industries, in tobacco smoke, vehical exhaust fumes, rubber and printing.

Symptoms with short term exposure include headaches, dizziness and throat irritation , and heart problems, liver and kidney damge and coma.

Ammonia

Found in window cleaners, smelling salts, floor waxes and fertilzers.

Symptoms include eye irritation, sore throat and coughing.

Here are 12 that are non-toxic to pets.

Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

©NC Cooperative Extension Horticulture/flickr

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') 

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

©Erusalio

Lilyturf (Liriope spicata)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene, ammonia

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

(Lead image)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene

Broadleaf lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene, ammonia

©Eric in SF/wiki

Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Filters: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene

©Hedwig Storch

Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.)

Filters: xylene and toluene

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)

Filters: xylene and toluene

Banana (Musa oriana)

Filters: formaldehyde

Useful links

Using plants and petals as natural dyes

DIY natural insecticides

Watch: The story of cosmetics

Resources

^{www.boredpanda.com/best-air-filtering-houseplants-nasa}

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_Air_Study}

^{www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances}