With concerns about Coronavirus/COVID-19, schools closing, and people staying cooped up inside, we’d like to spend the next few weeks focusing on actions, big and small, that we can take to improve the air quality in our homes.

Today we’ll talk plants. Back in 1989 NASA conducted a Clean Air Study. The purpose was to determine the effects of houseplants on indoor air quality and which ones were most effective at filtering pollutants from the air.

Which poses the question: What are we breathing?

Other pollutants that we might have in our air include the following:

-Dust, insecticides, herbicides or pesticides.

-Chorine by-products.

-Household cleaning chemicals, paints, solvents.

Synthetic fragrances, perfumes, deodorants.

Dry cleaning.

Tobacco smoke.

Pet dander.

Mold, bacteria, pollen, viruses, dust and dust mites.

Wax candle fumes.

Radon.

Some of the above chemicals are well-known to many of us, and some of them are very common. We understand they are bad for us. But just what exactly are the effects they have on our bodies?

Breathing in dust, dust-mites, pollen, dander, or mold is hard on the respiratory system. Change your furnace filter every 1-3 months depending on the type you have, and if you haven’t cleaned your air ducts, consider having it done.

Insecticides, pesticides and herbicides can disrupt the endocrine system and lead to cancerous growth. Try not to use them.

Inhaling chlorine by products can irritate and cause damages to the respiratory system.

Headaches, skin and throat irritation when people are exposed to household cleaning chemicals on a regular basis. Try using plant-based cleaners such as Young Living Thieves Cleaner.

Synthetic fragrances and such products can cause skin irritation, allergic reaction, cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and reproductive disorders. Try using essential oils instead of perfume

Dry cleaning contains trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, which are highly toxic substances that are known to cause cancer. Consider using a steamer instead of dry cleaning.

Tobacco smoke contains 200 known poisons and 43 carcinogens.

Candles made of paraffin wax release toxic chemicals such as toluene and benzene that can quickly build up to unhealthy level. Consider using a diffuser instead of candles to scent your home.

Radon gas emitted from kitchen counter tops, attics and basements are the second leading cause of lung cancer in America according to the US National Cancer Institute. In you live in the St. Cloud area and are concerned about radon, we recommend Scott Anderson of Statewide Property Inspections for radon testing. Call Scott at 320-761-2100.

What can we do about the chemicals in our air that aren’t as easy to control by making better choices? NASA learned that we can clean them from out air by utilizing houseplants. Certain houseplants do a great job at removing specific chemicals. The graph below provides an explanation.

So, the next time you head out to the grocery store to stock up on soup and toilet paper, pick up a houseplant as well!