Keeping your houseplant alive may extend your own life

If you don’t go out of your way to search for all-natural cleaning products or fill your house with naturally sourced furniture and bedding, or use non-toxic flooring finishing, you are likely chronically exposed to VOC’s… Volatile Organic Compounds.

This list of VOCs’ and their sources are lengthy, along with their potential health consequences.

Acetone found in furniture polish and nail polish remover; formaldehyde found in many molded plastics; toluene found in paint; ethanol found in cleaners and detergents. These are some of the more common toxins emitted from common household items. Other potential sources of household toxins come from burning candles, deodorizers and cooking.

While you may think opening your window would be enough to clear the room of toxins, sometimes the air coming in is not so fresh with fumes coming from vehicles or nearby industry. Even if fresh air does come in, our climate does not lend well to year-round opening of windows.

Headaches, irritated eyes and airway, chronic cough, itchy or irritated skin. These are just a few of the symptoms of potential exposure to VOCs’. Long term exposure to some of these toxins can lead to damaged kidneys, lungs and liver.

Your solution to cleaner air in the house may be in the common house plant. House plants can not only add oxygen to the air you breathe but they can also help clear many VOCs’.

Studies show that asthmatics in particular can benefit greatly from adding houseplants to the home (as long as they are not allergic to particular plants!). Which plants are best for removing VOCs’? Palms have been shown to be good for removing toluene, xylene and formaldehyde. Rubber tree plants are also good at clearing formaldehyde. Dracaenas are good filters for benzene. Most green plants (except the artificial ones!) will have some positive effect on the air quality in your home. The only challenge for some may keeping them alive!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.