Clean Air, Clear Minds: The Benefits of Having Houseplants
By Austria Cohn
It’s no secret that plants play a vital role in our natural environment for many different reasons, from taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen for us to breathe to providing insects with a safe haven. Plants are essential for keeping our natural world moving, living, and breathing. Bringing plants inside our homes can improve the air quality and our psychological and physical health and further children’s understanding of the natural world around us. Cleaning Our Air “We know that plants also clean air so they can remove air pollutants and particulates,” says Heather Kirk-Ballard, an assistant professor of Consumer Horticulture at Louisiana State
University. “They remove carbon dioxide, particulates, benzene, and up to 90 percent of formaldehyde.” The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that particulates, benzene, and formaldehyde are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). “VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products.” Not only do plants provide oxygen, but houseplants also clean the air we breathe in our homes by removing VOCs that come from various products we use around our house.
If you’re not persuaded to add a houseplant to your home, let’s discuss the psychological and physiological benefits. Physical and Mental Benefits “They can also help with our well-being. Indoor plants can simulate the psychological and the physiological relaxation response,” says Kirk- Ballard. “In fact, in schools, they’ve shown that it can improve test grades.” Research shows that workplaces with indoor plants positively affect individuals, from reducing fatigue to inspiring creativity. In a classroom full of students, plants simulating a calming response can help children that struggle to focus. The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) mentions the greener the play area/
20 MAY 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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