This Powerful Air Purifier Comes with Other Brain-Boosting Benefits, Too!

Did you know that the air inside your home may be more polluted than the air outside? With modern living comes a hidden danger—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from everyday household items. From furniture and paint to electronic devices and even dry cleaning, these toxins linger in the air and can have serious health consequences, including long-term brain damage. But here’s the good news: nature has a built-in air purifier! Certain houseplants can absorb these harmful chemicals, detoxifying your home while also boosting your mood. Curious to learn which plants offer the best protection? Read on to uncover the ultimate green guardians of your indoor air quality.

Three Key Takeaways

• Many household items, including furniture, carpets, and electronic devices, release harmful VOCs that can increase the risk of cancer and cognitive decline.
• NASA research has identified several houseplants that effectively remove toxins from indoor air, with tropical plants such as palms and ivies being among the most powerful.
• To maximize air purification, it's recommended to have at least one plant per 100 square feet of living space, particularly in low-ventilation areas.

Breathe Easy: How Houseplants Can Save Your Health

You may remember learning in school about the reciprocal relationship animals (including us) have with plants. We inhale oxygen and exhale CO₂ (carbon dioxide). Plants “inhale” carbon dioxide and send out oxygen. That means we need plants as much as they need us. But plants do even more for us than create oxygen. They can purify the air. That’s good news, especially these days. Because modern living puts an extraordinary amount of toxins into our homes, and these toxins can lead to long-term brain damage.

If you choose the right houseplants, they can be a practical indoor air filter. Here’s the full story...

“New Car Smell”

If you’ve ever sat in a new car, chances are you noticed the “new car smell.” Many people like it, although I’m not one of them.

The new car smell comes from VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are released from the materials the car is made from, such as molded plastic, adhesives, and sealers. The smell fades over time, but that doesn’t mean VOCs aren’t still present.

The same is true for your home. Unless the builder carefully selected building materials and paints that don’t “outgas,” then the ones used to make your home probably give off VOCs. Possible culprits include everything from the lumber used to the paint on your walls, and all your furniture, carpeting, and drapes.

Electronic devices are among the worst offenders – televisions and desktop computers.

We also bring VOCs into our homes in other ways. They’re in cleaning products, moth repellents, and air fresheners. Even our dry cleaning.

A study done in Michigan visited 126 homes at different times of the year to measure their levels of VOCs. Researchers were astounded to find a total of 56 different VOCs in ordinary homes.¹

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many VOCs can cause cancer. The worst offenders include benzene and formaldehyde (found in products such as paint, detergent, and furniture wax) and perchloroethylene (which comes from newly dry-cleaned clothes).

Findings from a study published by Harvard’s School of Public Health show exposure to certain VOCs may cause irreversible brain damage.²

Nature’s Best Air Purifiers

Luckily, we can tap into the amazing power of plants to help.

You may have heard of the NASA houseplant study. It was led by B.C. “Bill” Wolverton, a scientist for NASA. The well-documented study looked at houseplants as a possible way to purify the air in enclosed areas like office buildings (or space stations).³

The results showed many plants have an amazing ability to clear the air of certain toxins. And numerous other studies have followed. Some even show plants can target specific toxins, like mercury.

Mercury build-up is a problem for shops in the Brazilian Amazon that deal in the gold trade. But research shows certain plants, such as Spanish moss, can detect and absorb mercury from the air.⁴

And it turns out there are benefits to adding plants to our lives that go beyond purifying the air.

Soil has a healthy strain of bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae. Merely breathing it in has been shown to boost our brain’s frontal lobe activity.

Plants also lower people’s physical symptoms of stress and improve their mood. This happens because simply interacting with plants suppresses a person’s autonomic nervous system.⁵

Which Plants are Best?

Based on Wolverton’s study, the most effective plants to remove benzene are English ivy, peace lily, marginata, and Janet Craig plant (genus Dracena). These plants removed 77.6% of benzene from the air during 24 hours.

What if you want to remove other VOCs, too? Based on their overall ability to remove chemical vapors and their ease of maintenance, here are the top ten plants to consider:

• Areca palm
• Lady palm
• Bamboo palm
• Rubber plant
• Dracaena
• English ivy
• Dwarf date palm
• Ficus
• Boston fern
• Peace lily

The NASA study recommends about one plant for every 100 square feet of floor space.

Summary

Modern living exposes us to numerous indoor air pollutants, including VOCs from furniture, paints, and electronic devices. These harmful compounds have been linked to cancer and cognitive decline. Fortunately, research—including a NASA study—shows that certain houseplants can effectively remove these toxins from the air. Among the best air-purifying plants are the areca palm, peace lily, English ivy, and rubber plant. By strategically placing these plants in your home—especially in low-ventilation areas—you can significantly improve indoor air quality and overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are VOCs, and why are they dangerous?

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are toxic gases emitted from common household materials and products, linked to serious health risks such as cancer and brain damage.

Which houseplants are best for air purification?

According to NASA’s study, top air-purifying plants include areca palm, peace lily, English ivy, bamboo palm, and rubber plant.

How many plants do I need to improve indoor air quality?

It’s recommended to have at least one plant per 100 square feet of living space for effective air purification.

Can plants remove all indoor air pollutants?

While plants help reduce VOCs, they should be used alongside proper ventilation and toxin-free household products for the best results.

Do all houseplants purify the air?

No, only certain plants have been shown to effectively absorb toxins. Tropical plants, especially palms and ivies, tend to be the most effective air purifiers.