Do you know that formaldehyde, a colourless, pungent-smelling gas can cause severe health effects to us? Sources of formaldehyde are:-
- Environmental tobacco smoke and combustion sources (burning wood, kerosene and by automobiles)
- preservatives in some paints or cosmetics
- The coating finish used to coat paper products
- pressed wood products and furniture made with these pressed wood products
- certain insulation materials like urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and fiberglass insulation
- Various textiles, and glues.
Wow! There must be a lot of formaldehyde in our houses! The frightening part is formaldehyde can cause burning sensations in the eyes, watery eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing when exposed at levels that are elevated. It has also been demonstrated to cause cancer in animals and may contribute to cancer in humans. Health effects include exhaustion, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; eye; skin rash allergic reactions. High concentrations may trigger attacks.
Since research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of the time indoors, please make sure to keep our houses ventilated all of the time. You can also place certain types of plants that promote good air quality like the ones below:
- Chrysanthemum
- Dracaena
- Ivy
- Boston fern (Nephrolepsis Exaltata)
- Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens)
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
- English Ivy (Hedera Helix)
An experiment to discover a solution to keep air quality within spaces was made by NASA in 1973, and the results show that the plants can remove pollutants. Since plants absorb various pollutants, it’ll be a fantastic idea. Not only that but it makes your space look better and more inviting. Even having some in your bedroom can help to keep the air clean and fresh. Provided that you know where to put your favorite plants indoors.