WSchmitt_Annotation4_Top10PlantsforRemovingIndoorAirToxins

This article is actually a blog entry referring to a noted broken link, but it nevertheless a report on NASA research on a page on the EarthEasy website. The blog is written by Greg Seaman, and posted on May 13, 2009. The study was carried about by NASA as well as Associate Landscape Contractors of America under the direction of Dr. B. C. Wolverton, an environmental engineer from Massachusetts. The article brings forth the information about a study on plants that would be effective in removing harmful indoor air toxins from the air. The blog entry summarizes the study into the "Top 10 Plants for Removing Indoor Air Toxins." The NASA study focused on a list of certain airborne toxins that cause all kinds of respiratory issues, cancer, and other nervous system disorders. The chemicals were "formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds (benzene and trichloroethylene or TCE), airborne biological pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, pesticides and disinfectants (phenols), and radon." The 20-year study actually produced a list of 50 plants that removed air toxins and assigned a 1-10 rating based on chemical removal, plant 'toughness,' as well as other similar factors. The study was carried out by placing the plants in sealed chambers containing chemicals and measuring the amount of chemical that the plants absorbed as well as their reactions to the chemicals. The top ten plants seemed to have a few Ficus' as well as Ferns and Palms. The top ten plants were the Areca Palm, Lady Palm, Bamboo Palm, Rubber Plant (a ficus), Dracaena "Janet Craig", Philodendron, Dwarf Date Plant, Ficus Alii, Boston Fern, and Peace Lily. The blog entry cited the book by Wolverton called //How to Grow Fresh Air.//

Seaman, Greg. "The Top 10 Plants for Removing Indoor Toxins." Web Log post. //Eartheasy//. Eartheasy Ltd., 13 May 2009. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. .