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The NASA Clean Air Study[1] has been led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). Its results suggest that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.
The first list of air-filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of a clean air study published in 1989. which researched ways to clean air in space stations. As well as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as all plants do, these plants also eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. The second and third list are from B. C. Wolverton's book and paper and focus on removal of specific chemicals.
NASA researchers suggest efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space. Other research has shown that micro-organisms in the potting mix (soil) of a potted plant remove benzene from the air, and that some plant species also contribute to removing benzene.
Chart of air-filtering plants
| Plant, removes: | benzene[2] | formaldehyde[2][5] | trichloroethylene[2] | xylene and toluene[6] | ammonia[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) | no | Yes[5] | no | Yes | no |
| Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) | no | no | no | Yes | no |
| Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') | no | Yes[5] | no | Yes | no |
| Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata) | no | Yes[5] | no | Yes | no |
| English ivy (Hedera helix) | Yes | Yes[5] | Yes | Yes | no |
| Lilyturf (Liriope spicata) | no | Yes | no | Yes | Yes |
| Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) | no | Yes[2] | no | Yes | no |
| Devil's ivy, Money plant (Epipremnum aureum) | Yes | Yes[2] | no | Yes | no |
| Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa') | Yes | Yes[5] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum) | no | Yes | no | Yes | Yes |
| Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) | Yes[5][8] | Yes[5][8] | no | no | no |
| Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) | no | Yes[2][5] | no | Yes | no |
| Broadleaf lady palm (Rhapis excelsa) | no | Yes | no | Yes | Yes |
| Variegated snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii') | Yes[5] | Yes[2] | Yes[5] | Yes | no |
| Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron cordatum) | no | Yes[2] | no | no | no |
| Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) | no | Yes[2] | no | no | no |
| Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum) | no | Yes[2] | no | no | no |
| Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata) | Yes | Yes[2] | Yes | Yes | no |
| Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana') | Yes | Yes[2] | Yes | no | no |
| Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)[9] | no | Yes[5] | no | Yes | no |
| Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) | Yes | Yes[5] | Yes | no | no |
| Florist's chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) | Yes | Yes[2][5] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) | no | Yes[5] | no | no | no |
| Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.) | no | no | no | Yes | no |
| Dumb canes (Dieffenbachia spp.) | no | no | no | Yes | no |
| King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii) | no | no | no | Yes | no |
| Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) | no | no | no | Yes | no |
Foliage
Most of the plants on the list evolved in tropical or subtropical environments. Due to their ability to flourish on reduced sunlight, their leaf composition allows them to photosynthesize well in household light.
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