Solution to Indoor Air Pollution

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, poor indoor air pollution exists as the fourth largest environmental health concern in our country. Indoor air quality is an important, but often overlooked, environmental issue. The source of indoor air pollution can be particulate matter, biological (ie. molds and pollen), chemical (ie. radon or formaldehyde), smoke/combustion-based, or synthetic (ie. asbestos). New York City has a particularly high rate of asthma and allergies, severely affecting vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly.

Researching this entry, I stumbled upon the State of New York's Department of Health website regarding indoor air quality (http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/air_quality/), which provides some interesting and helpful information about the subject. Several times in its yearly report, the American Lung Association has ranked Manhattan an F in terms of air quality.

I am particularly fascinated by indoor air quality in New York City. As in any urban area, many people spend a considerable amount of time indoors. Also intriguing is indoor air quality during winter time in the city. Coming from Southern California, where the warm weather allows year-round access to the outdoors, I am beginning to see limitations of harsh winter weather. November through April, all New Yorkers spend most of their time indoors seeking refuge from the cold.

So, what is the potential GREEN solution to this issue? INDOOR PLANTS!

Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but there have been links found between improved air quality and use of indoor plants in certain scientific studies conducted by NASA. Plus the plants serve as a source of clean oxygen for poorly ventilated indoor areas.

My interest in indoor plants brought me to the Union Square Greenmarket on a Wednesday evening.

After wandering around a bit, I decided on the vendor who's employees seemed to be the friendliest, answering customer's questions and offering tips on plant upkeep. I chose an English Ivy plant, labeled by the farmer as a good air purifying indoor plant.

I also chose a small potted Warneck Dracaena shrub, and as an afterthought, a tiny festive Poinsettia. They are now settled nicely on my windowsill.

According to the studies conducted by NASA, the following are the top 10 air-filtering indoor plants.
1. English Ivy
2. Warneck Dracaena
3. Spider Plant
4. Golden pothos or Devil's Ivy
5. Peace Lily
6. Red-edged Dracaena
7. Gerbera Daisy
8. Pot Mum
9. Chinese Evergreen
10. Date Palm

For upkeep, make sure you do not overwater. Water every three to four days, so that the soil stays fairly dry to the touch. And while these indoor plants do not need direct sunlight, placement close to a window is ideal, particularly in urban conditions.

For further reading, head to the library and check out How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office by B.C. Wolverton. It is rated five stars on Amazon.com and seems like a cool read. To buy your own indoor plant, check out your local farmer's market (GreenMarket in NYC), hardware supply store, nursery, or grocery market.