Indoor air quality is an often overlooked aspect of everyday living. We spend most of our time enclosed indoors in workplaces or at home, unknowingly breathing potentially harmful airborne chemicals. However, the Peace Lily, an elegant and hardy plant, has drawn attention not only for its aesthetic allure but also for its intriguing property of cleaning indoor air.
Peace Lilies, scientifically known as Spathiphyllum, are indigenous to tropical regions of America and Southeastern Asia. They belong to the Araceae family, known for their lush green foliage and striking white flowers. They are often maintained as houseplants for their captivating appearance and adaptability to diffused light. However, the plants’ ability to remove indoor air pollutants has intensified researchers’ interest internationally.
NASA’s Clean Air Study, first initiated in the late 1980s, has identified certain houseplants, including the Peace Lily, as potential biofilters. The study demonstrated the Peace Lily’s efficiency in improving indoor air quality by absorbing and breaking down harmful toxins. These toxins include common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like Formaldehyde, Benzene, Trichloroethylene, Xylene, and Ammonia, typically found in everyday household items, such as cleaning solutions, paints, resins, et al.
Formaldehyde, a ubiquitous indoor pollutant, can emanate from particle boards, foam insulations, plywood, grocery bags, waxed paper, and even some cosmetics. One can easily inhale these toxins, leading to severe health issues like asthma, allergies, and in extreme cases, cancer. Peace Lilies absorb Formaldehyde from the air through tiny pores present on their leaves and sequester them in their root zone where they get broken down.
Benzene and Trichloroethylene are other VOCs often found in synthetic fibers, inks, oils, and common household cleaners. Long-term exposure to these pollutants can harm the nervous system and cause problems like headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Interestingly, Peace Lilies can absorb these harmful substances and transform them into harmless compounds, making the indoor environment healthier.
Ammonia, another widespread indoor air pollutant, can cause irritation in the eyes and throat, coughing, and serious lung diseases. It is often found in window cleaners, floor waxes, and fertilizing agents. Thankfully, the Peace Lily is efficient in removing these toxic substances from the air and converting them into benign compounds.
Apart from cleaning the air of toxins, Peace Lilies also provide natural humidity to an indoor environment. They have an excellent transpiration rate, releasing about 97% of the water they take in. This can be particularly beneficial in air-conditioned or heated rooms where the air can become excessively dry, leading to problems like dry skin, sore throat, and other allergies.
While having Peace Lilies certainly helps improve indoor air quality, be mindful that they themselves can pose some danger to pets. The plants contain calcium oxalate crystals which, when ingested, can cause difficulty in swallowing, excessive drooling, and vomiting in cats and dogs. Therefore, if you have pets, it is crucial to place these plants where your furry friends cannot access them.
Remember, although Peace Lilies have excellent air-purifying capabilities, they should not be considered as the sole solution for purifying indoor air. Maintaining a clean indoor environment, regular ventilation, and reduction of pollutant sources should go hand in hand with keeping indoor houseplants.
Despite this, Peace Lilies are highly effective and low-maintenance ‘bio-purifiers’. They not only adorn your interiors with their beautiful white blossoms and rich green foliage but also work relentlessly to clean your indoor air. Providing the right care, which includes regular watering, diffused light, and occasional fertilizer, will keep your Peace Lily healthy and capable of performing its air cleaning tasks effectively.
In a progressively polluted world, houseplants like Peace Lilies could provide some reprieve from indoor pollutants. These plants’ air-cleaning and humidity-regulating functions, along with their aesthetic charm, make Peace Lilies a fantastic plant to include in our homes and offices. By placing Peace Lilies in your living and working spaces, you can enjoy not only their lively greenery and serene white blooms but also their multitude of health benefits that can positively impact your overall well-being.
