NASA Clean Air Study
The NASA Clean Air Study was a research project conducted by NASA in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) in the late 1980s. The aim of the study was to determine which common indoor plants were effective at removing various pollutants, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, from the air.
The study found that certain species of plants were particularly effective at removing pollutants from indoor air. These plants included English ivy, spider plant, peace lily, bamboo palm, and several species of dracaena. The researchers found that the plants could remove up to 87% of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a 24-hour period.
The NASA Clean Air Study helped to bring attention to the potential of using plants as a natural air-purifying solution, and it has since led to further research into the benefits of indoor plants. Today, indoor plants are commonly used as a natural way to improve air quality in homes and offices.