Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Abstract

Modern-day commercial and residential buildings are energy saving and air tight constructions, these constructions lead to the accumulation of air pollutants to dangerous levels, posing a threat to human health. Potentially toxic gases and particulate matter (PM) are often released by a spread of indoor sources and activities of occupants, including furnishings, paints, varnishes, waxes, carpets, solvents, cleaning supplies, office equipment like copiers and printers, gas cooktops, and cigarettes [2]. Air pollutants common to different indoor environments include carbon monoxide gas and dioxide (CO and CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs; e.g., formaldehyde and benzene), nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Plants can absorb and catabolize almost any airborne pollutant; they can improve indoor air quality (IAQ) by simultaneously taking up CO2 and releasing O2 and increase air humidity by transpiration.