Science News: Indoor Plants are good for you :D

[Budman2012]

Heh , somethin' different

Yet another *Rock Solid* Argument as to why we should all have Cannabis growing in and around our places of residence

With the toxicity of society as it is these days ... Only our Plants can save us now

 

Indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels

 

Published: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 14:09 in Earth & Climate -

 

The toxic gas formaldehyde is contained in building materials including carpeting, curtains, plywood, and adhesives. As it is emitted from these sources, it deteriorates the air quality, which can lead to "multiple chemical sensitivity" and "sick building syndrome", medical conditions with symptoms such as allergies, asthma, and headaches. The prevalence of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) is greater in new construction. Researchers are studying the ability of plants to reduce formaldehyde levels in the air. A study led by Kwang Jin Kim of Korea's National Horticultural Research Institute compared the absorption rate of two types of houseplants. The results of the experiment on Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina) and Fatsia japonica, an evergreen shrub, were published in the Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science.

 

During the study, equal amounts of formaldehyde were pumped into containers holding each type of plant in three configurations: whole, roots-only with the leafy portion cut off, and aerial-only, with the below-ground portion sealed off, leaving the stem and leaves exposed.

 

The results showed the combined total of aerial-only and roots-only portions was similar to the amount removed by whole plants. Complete plants removed approximately 80% of the formaldehyde within 4 hours. Control chambers pumped with the same amount of formaldehyde, but not containing any plant parts, decreased by 7.3% during the day and 6.9% overnight within 5 hours. As the length of exposure increased, the amount of absorption decreased, which appeared to be due to the reduced concentration of the gas.

 

Aerial parts of reduced more formaldehyde during the day than at night. This suggests the role played by stomata, tiny slits on the surface of the leaves that are only open during the day. The portion of formaldehyde that was reduced during the night was most likely absorbed through a thin film on the plant's surface known as the cuticle. Root zones of ficus removed similar amounts between night and day. However, japonica root zones removed more formaldehyde at night.

 

Researchers consider microorganisms living among the soil and root system to be a major contributor to the reduction. Japonica were planted in larger pots than the ficus, which may account for the lower night reduction rate of the latter. More knowledge of the contributions of microorganisms is cited by the study to be important in further understanding the air purifying potential of plants.

Source: e!ScienceNews.com - http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/02/1...aldehyde.levels

And their Source: American Society for Horticultural Science - http://journal.ashspublications.org/cgi/co...tract/133/4/521

[Abstract]

Environmental Stress Physiology

 

Efficiency of Volatile Formaldehyde Removal by Indoor Plants: Contribution of Aerial Plant Parts versus the Root Zone

Kwang Jin Kim, Mi Jung Kil, Jeong Seob Song and Eun Ha Yoo

National Horticultural Research Institute, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-440, Korea

Ki-Cheol Son1

Department of Environmental Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea

Stanley J. Kays

Department of Horticulture, Plant Sciences Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7273

 

The contribution of aerial plant parts versus the root zone to the removal of volatile formaldehyde by potted Fatsia japonica Decne. & Planch. and Ficus benjamina L. plants was assessed during the day and night. The removal capacity of the entire plant, aerial plant parts, and root zone was determined by exposing the relevant parts to gaseous formaldehyde (2 µL·L–1) in airtight chambers (1.0 m3) constructed of inert materials. The rate of formaldehyde removal was initially rapid but decreased as the internal concentration diminished in the chamber. To compare the removal efficiency between species and plant parts, the time interval required to reach 50% of the initial concentration was determined (96 and 123 min for entire plants of F. japonica and F. benjamina, respectively). In both species, the aerial plant parts reduced the formaldehyde concentration during the day but removed little during the night. However, the root zone eliminated a substantial amount of formaldehyde during the day and night. The ratio of formaldehyde removal by aerial plant parts versus the root zone was similar for both species, at {approx}1:1 during the day and 1:11 at night. The effectiveness of the root zone in formaldehyde removal was due primarily to microorganisms and roots ({approx}90%); only about 10% was due to adsorption by the growing medium. The results indicate that the root zone is a major contributor to the removal of formaldehyde. A better understanding of formaldehyde metabolism by root zone microflora should facilitate maximizing the phytoremediation efficiency of indoor plants.

So what are you waiting for ... go get a Ficus .. ( .. Ficus!) .. *Cannabis Plant* or 2 and whack em inside your house ... It just may save your life

Stick a few seeds in a few Pots and grow them up inside under lights (or on the Window sill) and this will amost certainly Improve your health and well being

heheheh

Cheerz,

 

Budman

 

P.s. I do believe that Cannabis is a very efficient plant in this same process surrounding air ... and also efficient with water related "purification" i.e. "mop crop" but that's for another thread no doubt. Bye 4 Now.

[Radic]

gotta love dat

seen

Cannabis is the best co2 scrubber

so plant it outdoors too

broard acre style and save all the people

irey guidance