No doubt plants are natural detoxifiers. The only and most important for human life to survive on this earth. The conditions prevailing today are worse as all of us know. Pollutants in the air have reached a level which has very harmful effects on our health. Not only that but several respiratory problems are associated with it. It has also effecting our day today activities. Its hampering studies as schools are closed and pollution mask and air purifiers are need of an hour.
Basically air pollutants contain Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde & Benzene which are found in paints, varnishes, adhesives, facial tissues, plastics, tobacco, smoke and detergents etc. Their exposure may lead to headache, nausea, irritation to nose, mouth and throat, and in severe cases, swelling of the larynx and lungs and irritation to eyes.
Back in the late 80s, NASA was looking for ways to detoxify the air in its space stations. So it conducted a study to determine the most effective plants for filtering the air of toxic agents and converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. In 1989, their results were published in a clean air study that provided a definitive list of the plants that are most effective at cleaning indoor air. The report also suggested having at least one plant per every hundred square feet of home or office space. These plants are:
- Dwarf date Palm
- Boston Fern
- Kimberly Queen Fern
- Spider plant
- Chinese Evergreen
- Bamboo Palm
- Weeping Fig
- Devil’s Ivy
- Flamingo Lily
- Lilyturf
- Broadleaf lady Palm
- Barberton Daisy
- Cornstalk Dracaena
- English Ivy
- Varigated Snake Plant
- Red-Edged Dracaena
- Peace Lily
- Florist’s Chrysanthemum
Dr. Sangeeta Soi
Krishi Jagran, New Delhi
