MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Abstract:
We spend long periods of time indoors and are exposed to a variety of indoor pollutants
and often need to complete stressful tasks. We can reduce pollutants and stress
levels by growing houseplants which can purify the air and improve mental health, making
home environments healthier. One classic 1989 study by NASA researcher Bill Woverton concluded that many common houseplants can remove trace organic air pollutants. Further research has determined that houseplants remove pollutants that accumulate from a variety of household products and materials, many of which are unable to escape because of lack of ventilation with outside air (Kobayashi, 2007). Houseplants also often reduce our blood pressure and heart rate, leaving us feeling calmer and more connected with nature (Chen, 2019; Lee, 2015). The goal of this guide is to inform you about indoor air pollutants and resulting physical health effects, the potential of houseplants as air purifiers, and the stress-relieving benefits of having houseplants.

WC=156

Reader profile: A reader skeptical that owning one measly houseplant can improve their air quality and health.

Reader Response: Well I guess that plants do have the ability to remove some harmful pollutants, but I wonder how many plants would it take to purify my entire household. Having one small plant on my desk in my bedroom doesn’t seem like it would be able to help purify the air in other rooms, as well. I’ve heard that interacting with nature, like at a park, would help me with stress, but one plant alone sitting somewhere doesn’t seem to count. I don’t know how owning houseplants would suffice as an interaction with nature; plants aren’t involved like pets and not as all-encompassing as a forest or park. Despite some findings that plants can reduce pollutants and improve stress, I wish there was a way to quantify how many plants I would need to achieve these goals.

M, I wonder if any research exists on volumes of air and both size and location of a plant. Spend fifteen minutes looking and then let this go. However, I suspect that the off gaming of 02 IS local as the gas leaves the stomata and joins other O2 molecules in the room. I like the idea of being near off-basing of 02. At the least, this is a placebo effect and those ARE REAL about mood. Perhaps students might like a study succulent near them.