The NASA Clean Air Study, with help from the ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) set out to research methods for purifying the air inside space stations. Not only did they find plants express oxygen while absorbing harmful carbon dioxide (much like in nature), indoor plants also helped remove harmful toxins from the air including formaldehyde.
This is somewhat of a win/win result given houseplants also improve our mental well-being at the same time.
An article published in Psychology Today exploring the topic of mental health and its connection to plants written and researched by Johnathan S. Kaplan Ph D. explains some areas of benefit:
"Based on several experimental studies, the presence of potted plants has been found to be helpful in many different settings including work, school, and hospitals. In particular, plants have been shown to...
*Lower blood pressure (systolic)
*Improve reaction times
*Increase attentiveness
*Improve attendance (at work and school)
*Raise productivity (at work)
*Improve well-beingImprove perceptions of the spaceLower levels of anxiety during recovery from surgery
*Raise job satisfaction"
During this final stretch of winter, it is not difficult to experience the mood-lifting benefits of indoor plants. Their ability to detoxify and improve air quality while serving the duel purpose of strengthening moral seems a hard to beat.
This may be why somewhat of a February 'houseplant bomb' has gone off at our place recently, but feeling good about the investment.