Many people keep indoor plants in the living room, the bedroom or on an office desk, and it is widely believed that they keep the air clean and fresh. Citing Professor John Tregoning of Imperial College London, Bangla Tribune reports that it is not that simple.
In photosynthesis a plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen, he explains, but an ordinary houseplant makes only a few litres of oxygen a day. A person uses about 500 litres a day, so it would take several hundred plants to match one person's needs, and the plants would also need enough light to photosynthesise.
So rather than expecting much from plants, the more important thing for indoor air is regular ventilation. Opening a window to let outside air in lowers the carbon dioxide level in a room. Long hours in a closed room can make people drowsy, and without ventilation the risk of colds, coughs and other infections spreading also rises.
Plants are not without benefit, though. Greenery adds to a room and can help people feel at ease. A study in the 1980s found that patients who could see trees through a window after surgery needed less pain medication than those who looked at a wall, and recovered somewhat faster.
Keeping plants at home is a good habit for looks and peace of mind, but to keep the air fresh a room also needs enough light and air flow.
The report is by Bangla Tribune's lifestyle desk.
Photo: Tangopaso / Wikimedia Commons (public domain); potted plants on a shelf beneath a window.
Source: Bangla Tribune
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