Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Ambius, a landscaping solutions company, have discovered that plants have the ability to eliminate nearly all cancer-causing chemicals from the air in a room. In addition to providing oxygen, plants can also absorb harmful substances, making them beneficial for improving indoor air quality and potentially reducing the risk of cancer.
House plants are instrumental in improving air quality
According to Ambius General Manager Johan Hodgson, indoor air quality is usually more polluted relative to outdoor air, leading to negative effects on physical and mental health. However, according to a recent study, indoor plants could have a considerable effect on improving the quality of air.
The World Health Organization states that indoor air quality is a significant cause of 6.7 million premature deaths globally. Since people spend the majority of their time indoors at home, work, or school, it is crucial to implement effective measures to reduce the negative impacts of air pollution.
In a recent study, the Ambius green wall was found to be extremely effective in eliminating carcinogenic pollutants from the air. It successfully removed 97 per cent of the most toxic compounds in eight hours. This study is significant because it is the first to demonstrate that plants can also remove petrol (gasoline) fumes, a major source of toxic compounds in buildings worldwide.
Plants can remove carcinogenic substances like benzene from the air
In a groundbreaking study led by Associate Professor Fraser Torpy, a bioremediation researcher at UTS, plants were tested for their effectiveness in removing petrol-related compounds. The study results are remarkable, marking the first time such an investigation has been conducted. According to Torpy, plants have the ability to quickly remove a wide range of pollutants from the air, including harmful petrol-related substances like benzene. The efficiency of this process is higher for more harmful pollutants compared to less harmful ones. Additionally, the concentration of toxins in the air influences the plants’ effectiveness in removing them, suggesting that plants can adapt to their surroundings.
