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I once saw a list of plants that were helpful in cleaning air CO2 and other toxins. Do you know this list? Or, where I should look for it?
Gasping for Breath
Unless you have a really big home, and you are prepared to convert it into something resembling the Amazon, don't rely on a few pretty houseplants to clean up carbon dioxide (CO2) and other indoor air pollutants. In 1991, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) conducted a study to determine the extent to which plants acted as indoor air filters. Indeed, plants do reduce CO2 levels, but scientists concluded that it would take about 680 plants to do the trick in an average sized home. The reports and lists that you have come across could have been generated by the decorative houseplant industry, which has pushed their product as an air quality-enhancer without scientific evidence to back this claim. However, there are other ways to clean up home and office air, including proper ventilation, dust removal, and reducing the use of toxic cleaning agents. The Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at 1.800.438.4318 produces a free brochure detailing these and other suggestions.
