Houseplants Can Neutralize Gasoline Fumes in Harmful Indoor Air That Cause Cancer, New Study Shows

(Photo : Huy Phan / Unsplash)
Houseplants can reduce cancer risks by neutralizing harmful indoor air.

A recent study found that houseplants can reduce the risk of cancer by removing gasoline fumes from toxic indoor air.

Indoor Air is Harmful, Too

Air pollution is a serious environmental issue that affects all nations, including those with high and low incomes.

The World Health Organization, asserted that 6.7 million preventable deaths occur each year as a result of household and ambient air pollution.

Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, outside air is not necessarily worse than interior air quality.

Since the majority of people spend 90% of their time indoors, whether at home, in the workplace, or at school, this reality should worry us all.

Strategy: Houseplants

Since houseplants are a simple initial step, it is crucial to employ air quality preservation techniques indoors.

Indoor plants are frequently utilized to provide color to dull spaces and to match contemporary home design trends.

However, a recent study by scientists at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Ambius, a provider of plantscaping solutions, has discovered that houseplants can eliminate almost all of the cancer-causing vapors from an indoor environment.

The general manager of Ambius, Johan Hodgson, noted that because indoor air is frequently far more contaminated than outdoor air, it affects both physical and mental health.

The good news is that this study has demonstrated how something as small as growing plants indoors may have a significant impact.

An Ambius small green wall, which has a variety of indoor plants, was shown by the researchers to be quite successful at eliminating carcinogenic air pollutants.

In fact, the flora was found to eliminate 97% of the most harmful substances from the air around it in just eight hours.

Similar findings from earlier studies have also been seen.

This specific experiment, however, is the first to demonstrate that plants have the capacity to eliminate gasoline (or gasoline) fumes, one of the main sources of harmful substances within buildings worldwide.

Also Read: 7 Reasons for Growing a Hydroponic Garden at Home, Professional Gardener Explains 

Neutralizing Gasoline Fumes

This study is the first time plants have been evaluated for their capacity to eliminate chemicals connected to gasoline, and the results are remarkable, according to the study's principal investigator, Fraser Torpy.

In addition to being able to remove the bulk of air pollutants in a matter of hours, plants are also the most effective at doing so for pollutants associated with gasoline fumes.

For example, less dangerous chemicals like alcohols are metabolized more quickly than recognized carcinogen benzene.

Additionally, the researchers discovered that plants actually become quicker and more efficient at eliminating toxins when they are more concentrated in the air.

This demonstrates how plants can change to fit the environment and circumstances in which they are cultivated.

According to Hodgson's analysis of the latest data, plants should be considered an essential component of every workplace wellness program rather than merely a "nice to have."

The main fact is that adding plants to your home and office is the greatest, most practical, and sustainable strategy to reduce hazardous indoor air pollution, ChipChik reported.

The study, led by Torpy, was recently published by Ambius.

Related Article: 5 Indoor Plants for Picture-Perfect Bathrooms