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Living Air Cleaners
You probably know that houseplants
enhance the beauty of your surroundings, but did you know that many
actually clean pollutants out of the air? Basically, these plants work as
Nature's air filters by adding oxygen and humidity to your indoor
environment. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.
Common Harmful Airborne Chemicals
Many chemicals (such as formaldehyde,
benzene and trichloroethylene) are present in today's tightly insulated
homes and offices and can cause a variety of health problems. Consult the
chart below for sources and common health problems caused by these chemicals.
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Chemical
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Sources
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Effects
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Formaldehyde
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Particleboard or pressed wood
products, carpet, water repellants, fire retardant, natural gas,
kerosene, cigarette smoke
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Irritates the eyes, nose, and throat.
Can cause headaches and allergic dermatitis.
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Benzene
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Inks, oils, paints, plastics, rubber
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Irritates eyes and skin. Prolonged
exposure can cause headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness.
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Trichloroethylene
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Dry-cleaning fluid, printing inks, paints,
varnishes, adhesives
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Considered a carcinogen.
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Houseplants that Work
All plants remove chemicals from the
air to some degree. The following list highlights the most effective
pollutant-fighting plants.
Plant Name
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Primarily Effective
Against
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Bromeliad, Aloe, Spider
Plant, Poinsettia, Weeping
Fig, Philodendron
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Formaldehyde
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Chinese
Evergreen
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Benzene
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Bamboo Palm, Chrysanthemum,
Miniature Umbrella Plant
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Benzene, Formaldehyde
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Orchid
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Ammonia, Acetone, Formaldehyde
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Janet
Craig
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Benzene, Trichloroethylene
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Warneckii, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Golden
Pothos, Gerbera
Daisy, English
Ivy, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Peace
Lily
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Benzene, Trichloroethylene,
Formaldehyde
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Other varieties that are especially
effective are the snake
plant and several types of dracaena.
Exotic houseplants like bird
of paradise, elephant-ear
philodendrons and flowering banana plants
are also good bets.
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CAUTION:
Aloe, Philodendron, Chrysanthemum,
and English Ivy are known to be poisonous to pets.
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How Many Plants Do I Need?
It takes one or two good-sized plants
to purify the air in a 10 x 10 room, depending on the level of impurities
present. That equates to one large plant per 100 square feet of space. In
general, the more plants you have in the room, the better. Keep in mind
that a more heavily polluted environment requires more plants. Getting
good results in an entire house requires many plants. Because each plant
has an affinity for different toxins, use a mixture of plants. Most of
the houseplants mentioned are relatively easy to grow in moderate to
bright indirect sunlight or under fluorescent lighting. Consult our How
to Care for Houseplants article for more information.
Pure and Simple Relief
To beautify your surroundings, and
breathe a little easier, add several of these living air cleaners to your
home and work spaces. You'll feel better and make your indoor environment
more pleasant for living and working.
Was this information helpful? Please let
us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!
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2001 Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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