Phytoremediation

In 1989, NASA commissioned a famous study aimed at finding a solution for air detoxification in a space station. Bill Wolverton, the environmental scientist leading the research, sought a method to clean CO2 from the air and eliminate volatile substances as toxic as formaldehyde and benzene, which are present in many household decoration and furniture items. Benzene is found in plastics, fabrics, pesticides, and cigarette smoke, while formaldehydes are present in some cosmetics, dish detergents, fabric softeners, and carpet cleaners. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other indoor air pollutants like ozone have been linked to numerous acute conditions such as asthma and nausea, as well as chronic diseases like cancer and certain respiratory illnesses.

Using a completely sealed one-cubic-meter room containing synthetic materials that emitted toxic volatile substances and a large number of plants inside, Wolverton observed—after analyzing the air—that within one day the plants had eliminated most (70%) of the VOCs.

This ability of plants to remove harmful compounds from air, soil, and water is what is now known as phytoremediation. Since that study, which is over 30 years old, research has continued and shown that this process involves not only the plant’s leaves and roots but also the microorganisms living in the soil where the plant is grown.

However, the aspect recently criticized by researchers such as Michael Warin from Drexel University is the speed at which plants can produce these effects. According to recent studies, plants do have the ability to purify air, wastewater, and soil, but they do so at a very slow rate. Another highly questionable aspect of the original study is that it was extrapolated to everyday life despite being conducted under artificial conditions, such as a completely sealed room. Warin and colleagues concluded that a large number of plants per cubic meter would be needed to achieve this indoor air improvement effect, and that the ventilation rate of a typical home should be considered a very important variable.

This is not to say that all the possibilities offered by bioremediation shouldn’t continue to be studied. It’s a field with great potential and one that many companies in the U.S. and Japan are currently investing in. However, we must be cautious when extrapolating laboratory research results to real-life situations.

Filling your office or home with plants may make you more productive or help you feel more relaxed and happy, but it won’t make the air you breathe any purer. What is important is to ventilate the rooms in your home well—both in the mornings and before going to bed—to eliminate the carbon dioxide that accumulates during the day or night. Additionally, it’s best to avoid cleaning products that release volatile organic compounds and replace them with less harsh alternatives.

In HAUS buildings, a double-flow ventilation system is installed to provide clean, fresh air throughout the day and night, ensuring that the spaces where you live and work are truly healthy.