in 1989, a team at NASA conducted its 'clean air report' to investigate the naturally filtering properties of plant life. NASA had conducted the study in response to the 'sick building syndrome,' as it came to be known tardily into 20th century. during that time, fresh air substitution in buildings was sacrificed in favor of reduced energy usage — to lower the cost of heating and cooling a building, interiors were super-insulated sealed air tight. of form, this condition saw the rising of various illnesses transmitted due to the lack of natural ventilation and fresh air. at the same fourth dimension, that era saw the utilize of constructed edifice materials that gradually emitted harmful 'off-gases.' the team of researchers at NASA conclude that in improver to the use of safer building materials and the minimization of mechanical ventilation, indoor air pollution tin can exist greatly mitigated by the introduction of 'nature's life support system,' plants.

the NASA clean air study ended that certain plants tin can act a natural air filter to remove organic air pollutants — benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene were tested. as function of the study, which spanned two years, a drove of plants were placed in a sealed air sleeping room and exposed to high concentration of the chemicals. researchers then documented the percentage of the chemic that had been removed from the sealed space after a 24 hour period. below is a list of the top 18 plants that NASA adamant to exist the most constructive at naturally filtering out indoor air pollutants.

english ivy (hedera helix)

nasa clean air plants
image by theplantchica, etsy

devil's ivy, pothos plant (epipremnum aureum)

nasa clean air plants
paradigm by the sill

peace lily (spathiphyllum 'mauna loa')

nasa clean air plants
image by prettyingreenplants, etsy

chinese evergreen (aglaonema modestum)

nasa clean air plants
epitome by the spruce

bamboo palm (chamaedorea seifrizii)

nasa clean air plants
prototype by bloomscape

variegated sanseviera 'snake constitute,' (dracaena trifasciata 'laurentii')

nasa clean air plants
paradigm by the bandbox

heartleaf philodendron (philodendron cordatum)

nasa clean air plants
image by constitute shop seattle

selloum philodendron, lacy tree philodendron (philodendron bipinnatifidum)

nasa clean air plants
image by seedvillageUSA, etsy

elephant ear philodendron (philodendron domesticum)

nasa clean air plants
image past gardenerdy

ruby-edged dracaena, marginata (dracaena marginata)

nasa clean air plants
image by artterrarium

cornstalk dracaena (dracaena fragrans 'massangeana')

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
image by plantvine

weeping fig (ficus benjamina)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
image by the spruce

barberton daisy, gerbera daisy (gerbera jamesonii)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
image by the bandbox

florist's chrysanthemum, (chrysanthemum morifolium)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
image past longwood gardens

aloe vera (aloe vera)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
image by terrain

janet craig (dracaena deremensis)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
epitome past root98warehouse, etsy

warneckii (dracaena deremensis)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
epitome by house of plants

banana (musa oriana)

in search of fresh air: NASA lists the indoor plants that will naturally clean your space
epitome by the spruce

project info:

written report: interior mural plants for indoor air pollution abatement

team: national aeronautics and space assistants (NASA), the associated landscape contractors of america (ALCA)

date: september 15th, 1989