At home or in the office, houseplants add an element of elegance to the environment. But studies conducted by NASA reveal that houseplants have more unique features other than adding beauty to spaces. Commonly described as nature's bio-cleaning machines, houseplants have properties to detoxify indoor pollution and improve indoor air quality.

Indoor pollution can come from different sources such as adhesives, cleaning agents, tobacco products, new paint and carpentry work, carpets, copiers and inks. These sources can produces volatile toxic compounds (such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene) that can accumulate inside a poorly ventilated house or office during winter.

This causes "sick building syndrome," an acute incidence of indoor air pollution that can occur in closed or poorly ventilated areas. Some common symptoms are headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itchy skin, dizziness and nausea, difficulty concentrating, fatigue or sensitivity to odors.

NASA's research shows that common houseplants can remove indoor pollutants and prevent an unhealthful atmosphere. Houseplants such as gerbera daisy, dracaena marginata, peace lily (spathiphyllum), dracaena "Janet Craig" and Bamboo palm are effective plants in removing Trichloroethylene (TCE) concentrations from the air. TCE is a commercial product found in a wide variety of industrial uses.

Another common indoor pollutant is benzene. Benzene is a commonly used solvent and is present in many common items including gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics and rubber. Benzene has long been known to irritate the skin and eyes. Houseplants such as gerbera daisy, pot mum, peace lily, bamboo palm, dracaena Warneckei, English ivy and mother-in-law's tongue can detoxify Benzene compounds in the air.

As a general guide, two or more medium to large plants (14- to 16-inch containers) per 100 square feet of area are recommended. Of course, more plants and larger plants would certainly increase effectiveness.

So enjoy the upcoming holidays and winter season with a collection of indoor houseplants in your home and office that can bring happiness to you, your family and colleagues.

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