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| Natural Detoxifiers |
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Plants and Indoor Air Pollution: Natural Detoxifiers?
Recent studies conducted by the CSIRO have revealed that urban dwellers spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors, including at home, work, school and in vehicles. Whilst air pollution and associated environmental and health issue is usually linked to poor outdoor air quality, the same pollutants that cause outdoor air pollution are often found in sealed indoor areas, also known as ‘sick building syndrome’.
The management of indoor air quality, as highlighted by the World Health Organisation report ‘The Right to Healthy Indoor Air’, is often inadequate. Modern buildings are typically designed to be energy efficient (and thus maintain constant temperatures); with the result that many buildings are tightly sealed. This, in conjunction with poor ventilation systems and continued use of synthetic products in the home and office, results in the accumulation of air pollutants inside the home and office, with varying health consequences.
Recent research conducted at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) reveals that plants are an extremely effective way of improving the air quality of indoor spaces. Professor Margeret Burchett and horticulturalist Ron Wood investigated the capacity of commonly used plant species to reduce air pollution in indoor areas and found that potted plants on their own can reduce air toxins by up to 20 per cent.
ECO-Buy Recommends (for the uptake of low level background air pollutants):
For the uptake of Trichloroethylene; causes head ache, dizziness. Long term exposure to this substance adversely damages the liver and kidneys:
For the uptake of Formaldehyde; causes headaches, watery eyes and difficulty breathing, classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA:
For the uptake of Benzene; causes dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, unconsciousness
The above list has been developed courtesy of GOOD Magazine and Wolverton Environmental – Green Plants for Green Buildings.
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