Question from Jamie
Dear Debra,
I am getting mixed messages about my indoor plants. I recently purchased plants that were known for absorbing toxins in the home. One of the plants on the list was a Peace Lily. However, I just read online the Peace Lily emits’ VOC’s into the air and that the plastic containers the plants are coming in emit that as well? Have you heard of this and do you have any suggestions?
Thank you-
Debra’s Answer
Here’s more information about this study:
Study indicates need for further research to determine environmental, health impacts
Apparently plants do emit VOCs as well as absorb them, and they emit pesticides used in growing as well as from plastic pots.
So it makes sense that if you are going to have houseplants, that they be organically grown in clay pots.
It also kind of negates the idea of using plants as air filters because they apparently do not hold on to whatever VOCs they absorb from the air.
Well, good to know.
I’ll use formaldehyde as an example for what I am going to say. Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant and loves water, that is, formaldehyde readily combines with water. The concentration of formaldehyde in an indoor environment is dependent upon both relative humidity (the amount of water vapor in the air) and temperature; high relative humidity will drive formaldehyde out of sources (for example, wall board, carpet, counter tops, cabinets), allowing it to combine with water in the air; and an increase in temperature will do the same. A decrease in humidity and/or temperature will drive formaldehyde from the air back to those sources or other materials in the space.
In a room with closed doors and closed windows, formaldehyde will set up a steady state concentration in the ambient air based on the specific humidity and temperature. If the humidity goes higher, formaldehyde will leave its source(s) (kitchen cabinets, other particleboard materials and other sources such as wall board, flooring, etc.) and become part of the ambient air. If the temperature rises, formaldehyde will dump into the room in accordance with the temperature rise. When either or both temperature and relative humidity change a new steady state is produced with a revised ambient air concentration of formaldehyde. If one opens the window or door to air out the indoor space, the humidity and temperature may change, airflow changes and a new steady state will be produced once conditions remain the same. If conditions of lower humidity and/or lower temperature occur, formaldehyde will sequester in the materials that can reabsorb it. Draperies often can emit and then reabsorb formaldehyde depending upon conditions.
So, the fable about NASA using plants to clean air has some details left out. It may be that plants change the steady state air concentration of formaldehyde and may lower it. But, the most realistic way to significantly lower formaldehyde in indoor environments is to not use any materials including building materials that emit formaldehyde.
I have particleboard counter-tops, covered with Formica, that are almost 50 years old. Under the counter-top, where dishes and pots and pans are stored, there is a fine sawdust that collects on these items. I wash everything stored under the counters before using them. A significant amount of the formaldehyde resin that was used to stick the particle board together has emitted from the board and has gone elsewhere, thus producing the fine sawdust. It’s gross, but, I cannot tolerate new formaldehyde containing cabinets (formaldehyde from particle board or plywood) and I cannot afford solid wood (without particle board or plywood), so, I wash my dishes before using them.
A word to the wise: there is a new standard called CARB II, out of California that is often used with new cabinets; it is my understanding that in such products that meet the CARB II standard, an iso-cyanate or a iso-cyanurate is used as a resin instead of a formaldehyde resin. Be advised that iso-cyanates (and cyanurates) are vicious chemicals and any unreacted components of these resins are very reactive and will react with tissues including lung tissue and air passages.
I am very hypersensitive and so these are my feelings and my position on formaldehyde as related to indoor environments. Obviously, less sensitive individuals will not notice the toxicity I experience. It should also be considered that formaldehyde has been found to be a carcinogen under many standards around the World. Last I knew, EPA was still dragging its feet regarding honesty and forthrightness in regards to formaldehyde, but, did admit some level of cancer concern. Look to the Internet for information to update my input here.
Thank you for sharing all this explanation. From what I already know this makes sense to me.
Why not buy some activated carbon (coconut carbon is better at VOCs) and put it in the soil and top of soil too?
I, too, have suspected that my houseplants (and I have a lot of them) were a trade-off. I looked for organic houseplants but I could not find any. I repotted all my plants in organic soil and clay pots, but if the soil is not the issue and it’s the actual plants, then having some activated carbon around might help? I have yet to find an organic peace lily plant. Or, any organic air cleaning plant for that matter….
i’ve always suspected this & also don’t buy flowers anymore. My garden roses are covered in aphids and are not pristine looking. The flowers you buy at the florists are way too pristine….so, pesticides….
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
Great idea!
To be on the cautious side, I wrap my pot plant containers with plain activated carbon cloth. I experiment with the stuff quite a bit and also covered the top of my plants with it. I stopped using pebbles which had more of a cosmetic look. I lift the carbon, water them then drop the cloth again. I never liked plastic and never will trust it. ( my tinnitus gets worse with anything with plastic and other symptoms).
Thank you so much for this information. I have had house plants for years to “clean the air” but had not considered either the plastic pot, the soil, or the pesticides used to grow the plant commercially as contributing negatively to my home’s air quality.
Hi Debra,
Thank you for this information! I have a ton of indoor plants and thought I was cleaning my air – I never considered the plastic. Do you think I should get rid of all my indoor plants? I recently purchased Moso Bags in hopes that may be a safer alternative!!! http://mosonatural.com/ – I sure hope these are safe!
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
Totally fine! Great find! I’m adding it to Debra’s List.
Do the Moso Bags really clear your home’s air of pollutants, such as all of the ones found in sofas, etc? or is it better used to just remove odors?
Also, Debra – we just found the NASA list of house plants that are safe for pets and do remove toxins from your home; now it seems as if your readers are saying it’s not a good idea go get plants – ugh. Was hoping to use them near a new chair we had to buy to replace our broken sofa. Thoughts? Thank you.
I wouldn’t use a MOSO bag as an air filter to remove toxic chemicals such as those found in sofas. It’s just not enough media and not the best technology for that. EnviroKlenz air filters actually destroy the chemical molecules, where as carbon can only collect them.
Some years ago I did a lot of research on that NASA list and found that a 9 x 12 room with an 8-foot ceiling is 864 cubic feet, so you would need seventy-two (72) plants in that room to duplicate the test results given by Wolverton Environmental Services. Plants can freshen the air, but are not practical for serious removal of toxic gasses.
Thanks so much, Debra. I noticed the Enviroklenz website mentions something about a powder (their minerals); does this powder drift into your home? Also, do you know how quiet this unit is? Could you sit in a normal-size bedroom/den, and read with this in the same room? Hoping this unit is our answer for our new chair.
Are you asking if a powder drifts into the air from the air filter while in use? No, it doesn’t.
The unit has 8 speeds, I think. At low speed it is barely noticeable. At the highest speeds it’s pretty loud. But you would only need high speed in an emergency when you are trying to clear something from the air fast.
Correct me if i’ve misunderstood, my understanding from reading the article is that it is the soil releasing the majority maybe even all of the VOCS. Considering finding organic plants is difficult (at least in my area) removing the plant from the original soil and planting in organic soil should help.
As far as the pots releasing VOCs the ones that I have, have been labeled #5 the same as food storage containers. Has there been any studies of food containers releasing VOCS?
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
From reading the HortTechnology article, my understanding was
1. 23 VOCs were found in the plants themselves, and some of those were known ingredients in pesticides
2. other VOCs came from the micro-organisms in the soil
3. 11 of the VOCs came from the plastic pots.
I don’t see anything that indicates that “the majority or maybe even all of the VOCs” are coming from the soil, so simply transplanting wouldn’t handle the problem.
Yes, VOCs do migrate out of food storage containers, but that is a whole research project unto itself, which I am working on.
http://www.costafarms.com/public/costanewsview.aspx?News=Costa&Id=7
the link should answer your question. My own experience confirms this. I have chemical sensitivity and certain plants do give off a voc which i cant tolerate however some reduce the voc’s already present in my home making my life tolerable.