Many allergy-like conditions may actually be triggered by poor air quality in the home. FEMA reports that chemical irritants, such as formaldehyde, found in furniture, carpet, flooring, oil-based paint, can cause sinus trouble, burning eyes and throat, and respiratory infections. And without good ventilation and temperature control, these pollutants, along with mold and bacteria, increase in volume, especially as summertime humidity rises.
But the good news is that it won't cost much to protect your home air quality and prevent related health costs.
Kiplinger's Retirement Report identitifies several house plants that clean indoor air, (backed by NASA's Clean Air Study). They're relatively inexpensive, last forever (with a little TLC), green your home and even add appeal. Here's a quick list with links to relevant studies and care information. For more ways to detoxify your home see: Sweep Your House Clean of Toxins
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Spider Plants: Removes formaldehyde.
Fig Trees / Ficus: Reduces formaldehyde and xylene from the air. .
English Ivy: helps to tackle the air-pollution impact of petroleum-basedproducts and mold. (Read this study.)
Mums (chrysanthemums): Removes formaldehyde, xylene, benzene and ammonia.
Chinese Evergreen:: Removes formaldehyde, benzene and toxins from the surrounding atmosphere.
Bamboo Palm: A good remover of formaldehyde, chloroform, xylene, ammonia, benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene from the atmosphere.
Lilies: The peace lily is an especially good air purifier.Removes formaldehyde, benzene, toulene. ethyl and methylalcohol, acetone, xylene, ammonia, trichlorothylene and ethyl acetatefrom the air.
Photo credits: All photos are republished under GNU Free License
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