Indoor air quality

[nagev]

Does anyone else concern themselves with indoor air quality?

About 10 years ago, I started to become increasingly more conscious and concerned with indoor air quality. Including dust and general stuff from every day living, but also concerned about formaldehyde and benzene and such, given off by many modern products. When the topic of house plants come up (some people comment about the quantity of house plants I always seem to have in my house), it's a great way for me to bring up indoor air quality. Anyways, I read this article today and it brought it to my attention again:

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/06/presidential-panel-cancer-risks-underestimated/?hpt=Sbin

[Gliondrach]

I don't concern myself too much. I don't use any liquid chemical-ly things. I wouldn't wear or buy non-iron or non-stain clothes. My house is well ventilated - because of draughts and ill-fitting windows.

I've read that certain plants - rubber plants and ferns, I think - are good at soaking up pollution of various sorts.

[nagev]

Yeah, I regularly air out the house (open windows and doors daily even in winter). Plus I have a variety of plants. I had a link at one time, but I can't seem to find it, of a study done by NASA on plants and their ability to take up some of these common pollutants. I know there are some of the draconia, boston fern, pothos vine, ivy (I think english ivy), spider plants, mother-in-laws tongue, and some others (I can't remember them all).

Formaldehyde is common in a lot of glue products, as well as foam products. So things like carpeting (or the foam underlayment), plywood or particle board (which it seems like most furniture people have anymore is made of as well as the houses themselves anymore), furniture, both the frame from the plywood or particle board as well as the foam itself, and so on. It also is emitted from wood and other organic matter breaking down, so some kind of sealant is good for wood indoors (although I suppose the soil from house plants will also emit some formaldehyde), but I suspect that is much less than many other the other items people bring in.

Then benzene is in a lot of inks, paints, and so on, so the paint in the house, as well as inks from computer printers (a lot gets vaporized, so I would suggest if you do have one, keep it ventilated).

While these do decrease with time, many items will continue to emit for a long time. The combination of all of the items in a house can build up to be quite a bit.

Although people tend to glaze over, what they can't see or smell directly.

[Gliondrach]

There's not much foam or plywood, chipboard here. The house was built in the 1930s and doesn't have any of those woods. I never use the computer printer - it doesn't work.

I don't know if this is the list but it refers to NASA.

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A Listing of Plants that Add Beauty and Purify the Air

House plants will clean the air in your home, giving you nice, fresh and healthy air to breath. Putting natural air cleaning plants in various places will absorb harmful air pollutants in your home and release nice fresh oxygen

The most common harmful airborne chemicals found in the average home are formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide. Even in low concentrations, these chemicals can cause a variety of health problems.

Some of the most effective plants that remove air pollutants in your house are listed below. Care for these plants is also rather easy.

Rubber plants (Ficus robusta) are effective at removing formaldehyde; the rubber plant has thick, dark green shiny leaves. This plant will do well in rooms that don't receive much sunlight.

Palms (bamboo, lady, and areca varieties) are wonderful for removing airborne toxins and can add up to a liter of moisture to the air per day. These are great for counteracting the drying effects of indoor heating systems. Palms are low-maintenance houseplants. They do best in indirect sunlight and their soil should be kept moist but not wet.

Florist Mum (Chrysanthemum) comes in cheerful reds, pinks and yellows. This flowering fall plant is an excellent filter of airborne chemicals such as benzene (emitted by gasoline, ink, paint, and pesticides) and ammonia (common in household cleaning supplies).

English ivy (Hedera helix) is a vigorous climber and thrives in a hanging basket. English Ivy removes formaldehyde from the air. It can be found in nearly a hundred varieties. Ivy likes indirect light and should be kept away from heat registers.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), also known as the friendship plant, has long, dark green leaves and the lily will produce a beautiful bloom that looks like a small ear of corn covered with a white hood. It tolerates low light but does best in bright, filtered light.

Formaldehyde is found in virtually all indoor environments. It is used in the manufacture of particle board or pressed wood to make furniture and floor coverings. It is also used to make permanent-pressed clothes, water repellents, fire retardants and many household adhesives. Other sources of formaldehyde include natural gas and kerosene. Formaldehyde irritates the membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat and can cause headaches and allergic dermatitis. If having a few houseplants will help in getting rid of these pollutants it is well worth the effort.

If you have small children or pets, you should keep the plants out of their reach. Some plants are poisonous.

ht-tp://w-ww.associatedcontent.com/article/2353154/house_plants_that_clean_the_air_in.html?cat=30

[nagev]

Yeah, those were some on the list that I remember. :)

As another concern with bringing in house plants though, they increase the humidity, which can also create more problems with dust mites and mold.

[Gliondrach]

That is true.

This looks interesting. Don't know if it does what it's supposed to do.

Make a laser air purifier lamp.

ht-tp://ww-w.wonderhowto.com/how-to-usb-laser-air-purifier-lamp-69722/

[nagev]

I suppose as the long as the lasers actually kill the fungus or bacteria, it seems like it would work. Although I'd rather just open a window. ;)