We Are Told That There Is A Way That May Insure Us Against A Possible Tragedy
Though many homes today have CO detectors installed in one or more main rooms, they may sometimes be faulty for one reason or another and may not fully protect the occupants. Well, there is a way to have CO “breathing” plants positioned in critical areas of your home that would automatically lower any CO level and keep it low. It certainly cannot guarantee to correct a massive release of carbon monoxide from a faulty or totally improperly vented heating system exhaust, but by using some particular plants in your home, it could absorb enough during each day to prevent CO poisoning.
What Are The Key Houseplants That Can Be Used To “Breathe” CO?
It is known from conducting many experiments, mainly from government-funded programs that there are quite a few houseplants, which will "breathe" carbon monoxide. Some will absorb greater or lesser amounts of this gas throughout the day. The one found to be the most effective for this purpose is the Spider Plant, which is very common in many homes. It is extremely easy to grow and maintain and can also be propagated in order to spread into every room of your home and even place a few in your garage, if you store and start your auto, causing some CO fumes to be released from the exhaust.
As mentioned, there are quite a few houseplants that possess the ability to absorb carbon monoxide from the air, which is the "Golden Pathos", another very common houseplant found in many homes. The Golden Pathos is not quite as effective as the Spider Plant, but will serve to lower CO in your household, or your apartment.
So, What Have Some Of The Experiments Found When Many Plants Were Tested?
Experiments found that the Spider Plant was able to remove more than 95% of the carbon monoxide in a room containing over 125 PPM (parts per million) of CO concentration.
Likewise, when the Pathos plant was tested, it was found to remove about 75% of the carbon monoxide in a room containing slightly over 110 PPM of CO concentration.
Other Houseplants Possessing Similar Properties As Those Already Mentioned
Chrysanthemum (Mum) English Ivy
There were other houseplants that were found to possess similar properties in absorbing carbon monoxide, but much lower absorption levels and they were:
- English Ivy: This plant did absorb a substantial amount of Benzene and Trichorethylene and low amounts of CO.
- Chinese Evergreen: It mainly absorbed Benzene.
- Chrysanthemum: The Mum absorbs mainly Benzene, Formaldehyde and Trichlorethylene.
- Corn Plant: This plant mainly absorbs Formaldehyde.
One thing to remember is that all plants will clean the air in your home or apartment to some degree. A rule of thumb is to place one large plant per 100 square feet of area, or two medium one's.
