BusyBodyHealth

Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? It serves as the first line of defense to the outside elements and infectious materials. So when your skin is exposed to polluted & harmful air, these toxins gets into your body. Some more effeciently than others. Nevertheless, air pollution is more serious than

we care to think about. We can combat this in our homes by using some common household plants to remove chemicals released from various fibers in upholstery, curtains, carpets, permanent-press clothing, paper towels, and tissues. Solvents in cleaning supplies and aerosols, construction materials such as wallboards, paints, varnishes, stains, furnitures, plywood, particle board, and the like are other sources of toxins.  Even modern synthetic furnitures such as computers, electrical equipments, synthetic materials such as BPA in plastic bottles, also contributes to this problem. 

Studies from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (Dr. William Wolverton at wolvertoneenvironmental.com) have shown that plants in the home can reduce up to 80% of indoor air pollutants. Place two plants per 100 square feet will help to achieve the best results.  In additional to purifying the air, it also detox the air, control air humidity, reduce sound levels and stress levels.

	Areca Palm (Yellow Palm or Butterfly Palm) - releases moisture into the air which regulate the indoor humidity.  This plant is rated as one of the best indoor houseplants for removing indoor chemical toxins.
	Bamboo Palm - rated highest in transpiration (release water vapor into the air). Best known for removing traces of benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde.
	Boston Fern - best known at removing indoor air pollutants,  particularly formaldehyde.  It also adds humidity to the environment through transpiration.
	Dracaena Janet Graig - slow growing plant, survive low light conditions, best known at removing trichloreoethylene.
	Pygme Date Palm - slow grower. can survive for decades; best palm in removing pollutants esp. xylene.
	English Ivy - easy to grow; excellent at removing benzene from the air.
	Ficus Alii - A large plant that grows easily and resists insects. Great at removing air toxins.
	Peace Lily - Regulates indoor humidity due to it's high transpiration rate. Great at removing alcohols, acetones, trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde from air.
	Rubber Plant - tough and easy to grow. Survives in low light. Best of the ficus plants at removing indoor toxins especially formaldehyde.
	Lady Palm - Easy care plant. Slow grower, insect resistant, and great at improving indoor air quality.

Virtually every tropical indoor plant and many flowering plants are powerful removers of indoor air pollutants. Below is a chart of the plants in the NASA study that most effectively removers of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethlene:

Sources & References:

http://ecohomeresource.com/2009/06/10-housplants-which-will-detox.html 

http://www.cbn.com/health/goldfarb_houseplants.aspx
htto://healingcancernaturally.com/plants-natures-most-efficient-environmental-air-cleaner.html