Indoor Air Quality Improvement with Plants: Mechanisms and Recommendations

Indoor air pollution can have detrimental effects on concentration, productivity, and health, known as sick building syndrome. Plants offer a natural solution to remove air pollutants, as demonstrated by NASA's research in the 1980s on 12 popular pot plants. These plants showed significant capability in purifying indoor air by various mechanisms such as root uptake, absorption through stomata, and enzymatic degradation. Factors like leaf structure, stomata density, and light exposure influence the plants' efficiency in air filtration. Additionally, the microbiological populations in potting soil support plant growth and pollutant removal. While specific numbers on the required quantity of plants for air quality improvement vary, a recommendation of five to six pot plants per 10 m² with ample leaf mass is suggested for optimal results.