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2020-01-17 11:59:06
The
air inside the average home is up to five times more polluted than the air
outside.
According
to the World Health Organization, air pollution is defined as the contamination
of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological
agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
While
people are generally aware of and educated about the dangers of outdoor air pollution,
a lot are still nescient of the risks for health concerning indoor air
pollution. There are many pollutants inside your home that can have negative
impacts on your indoor air quality, such as emissions from plastics, furniture,
cosmetics and detergents, cooking and heating gases, which are referred to as –
the volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The pollution can be worsened if you are
living in a modern energy-efficient building which has very little ventilation.
In
Western countries the presence of air pollutants is two to five times higher in
indoor air than outdoors, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). On the contrary, in China, generally speaking the indoor air quality is
better than the outdoor, yet both are still considered to be fairly polluted.
With the summer heat and monsoon in China, you might be tempted to keep your
windows closed and turn on your AC to avoid the humid and warm air to invade
your house. Unfortunately, this might worsen your indoor air quality.
If you
are looking for natural and affordable solutions to improve your home air
quality, air purifying plants are definitely the best way to naturally clean
the air inside your house. MSH China has found you the 10 best air purifying plants
to detoxify your living spaces.
LADY PALM (Rhapis excelsa -女棕榈 棕竹)
The
Lady Palm doesn’t need a lot of sun nor water. This plant loves humidity and is
then perfect for the Chinese weather. Inside can stay in a bathroom otherwise
need to be sprayed regularly with a water mister. This palm is listed among one
of the most efficient air purifying plants according to studies from the NASA.
It can clean the air from xylene, formaldehyde and ammonia contained in glues,
solvents, paints, furniture, carpets and household products.
SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria -心叶蔓绿绒)
The Snake
plant or mother-in-law’s tongue is one of the best natural air filtering of
formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene. The formaldehyde
is one of the most common pollutants, it is present in many houses and offices
(pressed wood, carpet, cigarette smoke, furniture, cooking fuels etc.)
RUBBER PLANTS (Ficus Elastic)
Rubber
plants are pretty popular because it’s easy to take care of them. They need
light and a little bit of water. They love humid climate which made them perfect
for Shanghai and many Chinese cities. Be aware that the rubber plants are toxic
to cats and dogs.