Getting plastic plants may be visually appealing for some, but is it beneficial for the environment? Plants are much more than just visually appealing. They bring many benefits to humans and to the environment around them. As of today, pollution is a great issue that affects many aspects of our lives and can cause serious health issues. Fortunately, plants have the ability to clean the air containing pollutants, therefore reducing the risk of illnesses.
In a nutshell, plants take in the harmful chemicals in the air and sequester them in their roots and cells. Some of the chemicals are stored inside of the plant, while others are broken down by the fungi in the soil of the plant. Plants undergo transpiration, a process in which plants draw water from the roots up to the leaves. When it reaches the leaves, water is released in the form of vapor. When water vapor is released, gas exchange occurs.
The plants that are most helpful in removing harmful chemicals from the air through transpiration are:
The Boston Fern
The Peace Lilly
The Gerbera Daisy
The Chinese Evergreen
The Snake Plant
The snake plant, according to Dr. Dennis Stevenson, is the friendliest plant for people that lack a green thumb and struggle to keep plants alive.
This process is very helpful because some chemicals that are in the air are carcinogens: chemicals that cause cancer. Some examples of these harmful chemicals can be ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene. For this reason, having plants that clean the air is very convenient.
For more information on this topic, click here to view “A NASA study explains how to purify the air with house plants,” a video that reviews the discoveries of scientists regarding the purification of air with plants.
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