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The benefits of embracing an indoor garden are multi-fold. Not only do these luscious green plants add to the aesthetic beauty of your home or workspace, but they also play a potent role in enhancing your indoor air quality. Among the many toxins, we’ll be focusing on one specific compound – Benzene. To understand how significant it is to regulate the levels of benzene indoors, we first need to delve into what benzene is, its source, and its impact on human health.
## Benzene: What Is It And How Does It Impact Health?
Benzene is a colorless or light-yellow liquid chemical that evaporates into the air quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is widely used in a range of industries. It’s present in crude oil, gasoline, and is a by-product of industrial processes like the production of plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, rubber, dyes, detergents, and pharmaceuticals.
In addition to the industrial use, Benzene is also commonly found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and during forest fires or volcanic eruptions. Therefore, benzene is a ubiquitous component in our living environment, raising concerns for public health.
Prolonged or high exposure to benzene, particularly in the indoor atmosphere, can have detrimental effects on our health. It impacts every system in our body and is a proven carcinogen causing ailments like leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It also affects the immune system and is linked with genetic changes in humans.
With these potential health risks, it’s evident that benzene is a toxic compound that should be controlled in indoor environments. Fortunately, certain indoor plants have been proven effective in removing benzene from the air, thereby enriching the quality of the indoor air we breathe.
## Indoor Plants for Benzene Removal
Researchers around the globe are making immense progress in exploring the potential of indoor plants in combating the detrimental effects of indoor air pollutants, including benzene. Here are some of the plants that have been proven to be effective at this:
### English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy is one of the most potent plants for filtering indoor air. It has been studied by NASA for its distinctive ability to remove benzene. Surprisingly, it can degrade almost 90% of benzene in the air within 24 hours of exposure. It is also known to absorb formaldehyde, another common indoor air pollutant.
These perennial vines are easy to grow and maintain. They like to climb, making them ideal for hanging baskets, trellises, and green walls. Being relatively resilient, ivy thrives in a range of lighting conditions from partial shade to full sun, and prefer cooler indoor temperatures.
### Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Popular for its robustness, Spider Plant is another natural weapon against benzene. Also praised by NASA, it’s a champion when it comes to purifying indoor air. Spider plants are excellent at absorbing benzene, along with other harmful indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene.
Spider plants are not demanding. They prefer indirect sunlight and room temperatures that are on the cooler side. With vibrant green foliage in a unique growth pattern, Spider plants certainly add to our home décor while ensuring better air quality.
### Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
With deep green leaves and serene white flowers, the Peace Lily not only adds elegance to your indoor spaces but is also a powerhouse air purifier. It’s reputed for removing benzene and other toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene, ammonia, and formaldehyde from the air.
Peace Lily prefers lower light and warmer climates, but it doesn’t demand constant care. One must remember, however, Peace Lilies are mildly toxic if ingested, so they should be placed out of reach of small children and pets.
The aforementioned plants are only a few among the many available choices that can help cleanse the indoor environment from harmful toxins such as benzene. By making smart plant choices, you are passively ensuring the well-being of everyone sharing that space. Instilling a few green lives in your living or working area can genuinely make indoor living healthier and more enjoyable.
