::_._,...... 'iNi,ASiA-T_i_-108!0_ 57....

/o _-_I

HOUSEPLANTS , I_t_l_ AIR POLLUTANTS, ANU ALLERGIC REACTIONS

B. C. WULVERTON, PH. U.

.................. /V /" S ii ...........,

...._,.........._,_:::_::_::_,,_!_,,_iiii:,,:::_/'_¸

NATIUNAL AERUI_UTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIUN

NATIONAL SPACE TECIINOLUGY LABORATORIES

NSTL, MS 39529

TO BE PRESENTEU AT"

OTULAIIYNGULOBY, ORTHOUUNTICS ANU SLEEP DISORDERS CONFERENCE

PASS CHRISTIAN, MS

UECEMBER 13 - 14, 1986

!'_.i_? ":_- 7 0 4 i. "?

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formaldehyde were reduced to 0.5 ppm demonstrating a removal

efficiency rate of 3.27 _g/cm 2.

Remova| efficiency rates can be expected to decrease with

concentration levels because fewer molecules of chemicals come in

contact with the leaf surface area.

4. Several centimeters of small washed gravel should be used to cover

the surface of pot plants when large numbers of plants are kept in

the home. The reason for this is to reduce the exposed are of

damp potting soil which encourages the growth of molds (fungi).

5. The leaves of Phi lodendron domesti cum and golden pothos

(Scindapsus aureus) have also demonstrated their abi]ity to remove

benzene and carbon monoxide from closed chambers.

6. A combi nati on of acti vated carbon and plant roots have

demonstrated the greatest potential for removing large volumes of

volatile organics along with smoke and possible radon from closed

systems. Although fewer plants are required for this concept a

mechanical blower motor must be used to pull or push the air

through the carbon-root filter. NASA studies on motor sizes and

bioregeneration rates should be completed by 1988.

REFERENCES

i •

o

•

o

•

•

o

go

T. G. Randolph and R. W. Moss. 1980. An Alternative Approach to

Allergies. Harper and Row Publishers, New York, NY.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 1974. The

Proceedings of the Skylab Life Sciences Symposium, August 27 - 29,1974. NASA TM-X-58154. Johnson Space Center. 161-168.

Gammage, R. B. and S. V. Kaye (Eds.}. 1984. Indoor Air and Human

Health. Proceedings of the Seventh Life Sciences Symposium,

Knoxville, TN, October 29-31, 1984. Lewis Publishers, Inc.,

Chelsea, MI.

Walsh, C., S. Dudney and E. D. Copenhauer.

Quality. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL.

1984. Indoor Air

Wallace, L., S. Brombert, E. Pellizzari, T. Hartwel|, H. Zelon,and L. Sheldon. 1984. Plan and preliminary results of the U. S.

Environmental Protection Agency's indoor air monitoring program

(1_82}. In" Indoor Air, Swedish Council for Building Research,

Stockholm, Sweden. 1:173-178.

Pellizzari, E. U., M. D. Erickson, M. T. Giguere, T. U. Hartwell,

S. R. Williams, C. M. Sparacino, H. Zelon, and R. U. Waddell.1980. Preliminary Study of Toxic Chemicals in Environmental Human

Samples" Work Plan, Vols I and II, (Phase I}. U. S. EPA,

Washington, DC.

Pellizzari, E. D., M. D. Erickson, C. M. Sparacino,

Hartwell, M. Zelon, M. Rosenweig, and C. Leininger. 1981.

Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study" Phase II-

Plan. U. S. EPA, washington, DC.

T° C°

Total

Work

Wallace, L., R. Zweidinger, M. Erickson, S. Cooper, u. Whittaker,and E. Pellizzari. 1982. Monitoring individual exposure:

measurements of volatile organic compounds in breathing-zone air,

drinking water, and exhaled breath. Env. Int., 8:269-282.

Pellizzari, E. U., T. Hartwell, H. Zelon, C. Leininger, M.

Erickson, S. Cooper, U. Whittaker, and L. wallace. 1982. Total

Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Prepilot Study -- NorthernNew Jersey. U. S. EPA, Washington, DC.

Sparacino, C., C. Leininger, H. Zelon, T. Hartwell, M. Erickson,and E. Pellizzari. 1982. Sampling and Analysis for the Total

Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM} Prepilot Study. Research

Triangle Park, NC. U. S. EPA, Washington, bC.

Sparacino, C., E. Pellizzari, and M. Erickson. 1982.Assurance for the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology

Prepilot Study. U. S. EPA, Washington, UC.

Quality

( TEAM}

Pellizzari, E. D., T. D. Hartwell, C. Leininger, ri. Zelon, S.williams, J. Breen, and L. wallace. 1983 Humanexposure tovapor-phase halogenated hydrocarbons: fixed-site vs. personalexposure. Proceedings from Symposiumon Ambient, Source, andExposure Monitoring Systems Lab., Research Triangle Park, NC. EPA600/99-83-007. U. S. EPA,Washington, DC.

wallace, L., E. Pellizzari, T. Hartwell, M. Rosenweig, M.Erickson, C. Sparacino, and _. Zelon. 19_4. Personal exposure tovolatile organic compounds" I. direct measurement inbreathing-zone air, drinking water, food and exhaled breath. Env.Res., 35:193-211.

Pellizzari, E., T. Hartwell, C. Sparacino, C. Shelson, R.whitmore, C. Leininger, and H. Zelon. 1984. Total ExposureAssessment Methodology (TEAM}Study" First Season, Northern NewJersey -- Interim Report. Contract No. 68-02-3679. U. S. EPA,washington, DC.

Hartwell, T. C., R. L. Perritt, H. X. Zelon, R. W. Whitmore, E. D.

Pellizzari, and L. wallace. 1984. Comparison of indoor and

outdoor levels of air volatiles in New Jersey. In- Indoor Air,

Swedish Counci ] for Building Research, Stockholm, Sweden.4:81-86.

Pellizzari, E., C. Sparacino, L. Sheldon, C. Leininger, H. Zelon,T. Hartwe]l, and L. Wallace. 1984. In" Ibid. 4-221-226.

Wallace, L., E. Pellizzari, T. Hartwel|, M. Zelon, C. Sparacino,

and R. Whitmore. 1984. Analysis of exhaled breath of 355 urban

residents for volatile organic compounds. In- Ibid. 4-15-20.

Rosenweig, M. and T. D. Hartwel]. 1983. Statistical Analysis and

Evaluation of the Halocarbon Survey. Research Triangle Institute,

Final Report, EPA Contract 68-01-5848. U.S. EPA, Washington, DC.

Hartwell, T. U., H. X. Zelon, C. C. Leininger, C. A. Clayton, J.H. Crowder, and E. D. Pellizzari. 19_4. Comparative statistical

analysis for volatile halocarbons in indoor and outdoor air. In-

Indoor Air, Swedish Council for Building Research, Stockholm,Sweden. 4:57-62.

Molhave, L., and J. Mol]er. 1979. The atmospheric environment in

modern Uanish dwellings" measurements in 39 flats. Indoor

Climate. Danish Building Research Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.171-186.

Jarke, F. H. 1979. ASHRAE Report 183. IITMI, Chicago, IL.

Lebret, E. H., J. Van de Wiel, H. P. Box, D. No i j, and J. S. M.Boleij. 1984. Volatile hydrocarbons in Uutch homes. In- IndoorAir, Swedish Council for Building Research, Stockholm, Sweden.4-169-174.

Seifert, B. and H. J. Abraham. 1982.of benzene and some other aromatic

Environ. Safety, 6"190-192.

Indoor air concentrations

hydrocarbons. Ecotoxicol.

De Bortoli, M., H. Knoppel, E. Pecchio, A. Peil, L. Rogora, H.Schauenberg, h. Schlitt, and H. Vissers. 1984. Integrating 'reallife' measurements of organic pollution in indoor and outdoor air

of homes in northern Italy. In" Indoor Air, Swedish Council for

Building Research, Stockholm, Sweden. 4"21-26.

L_ammage, R. B., D. A. white, and K. C. Gupta. 1984. Residential

measurements of high volatility organics and their sources. In"

Ibid. 4"157-162.

Monteith, D. K., T. H. Stock, and W. E. Seifert, Jr.Sources and characterization of organic air contaminants

manufactured housing. In" Ibid. 4"285-290.

1984.inside

National Research Council, Committee on

Formaldehyde-an assessment of its healthAcademy of Sciences, washington, DC.

Toxicology. 1980.effects. National

National Research

Formaldehyde and

Washington, DC.

Council, Committee

other aldehydes.

on Aldehydes. 1981a.

National Academy Press,

National

1981b.

DC.

Research Council,

Indoor pollutants.

Committee on Indoor Pollutants.

National Academy Press, Washington,

wolverton, B. C. 1980. Higher plants for recycling human wasteinto food, potable water and revitalized air in a closed life

support system. NASA (NSTL) Report No. 192. National Space

Technology Laboratories, NSTL, MS.

Wolverton, B. C. and K. C. McDonald. 1981.

treatment of organic chemical waste.

3 -99-104.

Natural processes forThe Environ. Prof.,

Wolverton, B. C. 1982.

anaerobic mi croorgani sms

Bot., 36(4} -373-380.

Hybrid wastewater treatment systems using

and reed (Phragmites communis). Econ.

Wolverton, B. C. and R. C. McDonald. The role of vascular aquatic

plants in wastewater treatment. The Nerbarist, 48-24-29.

Wolverton, B. C., R. C. McDonald

Microorganisms and higher plants for

Environ. Qual., 12(2)'236-242.

and W. R. Uuffer. 1983.

wastewater treatment. J.

wolverton, B. C., R. C. McDonald and L. K. Marble. 1984. Removalof benzene and its derivatives from polluted water using the

reed/microbial filter technique. J. MS Acad. Sci., 29-119-127.

37. Wolverton, R. C. McDonald, C. C. Myrick and K. M. Johnson. 1984.Upgrading septic tanks using microbial/plant filters. J. MS Acad.Sci., 29" 19-25.

Wolverton, B. C., R. C. McDonald and E. A. Watkins, Jr.

Foliage plants for removing indoor air pollutants fromefficient homes. Econ. Bot., 38(2)-224-228.

1984.

energy

wolverton, B. C., R. C. McDonald and H. H. Mesick. 1985. Foliage

plants for the indoor removal of the primary combustion gasescarbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. J. MS Acad. Sci., 30-1-8.

wol verton, B.Bi ot ran sformat ion

vascular plants.

C. and R. C. McDonal d-McCa ]eb.

of priority pollutants using biofilmsJ. MS Acad. Sci., 31-79-89.

1986.and

McUonald, R.radioactiveTM-X-72740.

C •

water

1981.and

Vascular plants for decontaminatingsoi] s. NASA Techni cal Memorandum

TABLE 1

Twelve of the 107 Volatile Organics Identifiedin the Atmosphere of Skylab 3.

Or_Eg_anic

Acetone

Freon-112 & 113

7895.0

Concentration,_pb .......................................................

46th Da_y 77th Day

7098.0 2760.0

Benzene 116.0 70.1 38.6

Benzaldehyde

Heptene

Dichlorobenzene

Naphthalene

Xylene (total)

Ethylacetate

Dichloroethane

2-Butanone

Toluene 1647.0 1040.0 1717.0

1505.0 1222.0 665.0

515.0 384.6 406.5

454.0 390.0 221.0

454.0 224.0 213.0

114.0 62.4 102,0

88.0 52.0 116.0

25.6 13.0 24.8

90.9 59.8 113.0

5907.0 8553.0 8446.0

O4

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Plants*

Philodendron oxycardium

Xheart leaf philocJenaron)

t/-_DL r_ J

FORMALDEHYDE REMOVAL DURING A 24 HOUR EXPUSURE PERIOD

Total Formal dehyde in Chamber

initial After 6 hr After 24 hr

Ave. Lea_ Surface(cm)

pg Formaldehyde RemovalPer cm _ of Leaf Area

6 hr 24 hr

11,921 5,256 3,455 1,696 3.93 4.99

Phi lodendron domesticum 11,575 4,665 1,555 2,323

Xelephant ear)low concentrations 1,209 570 432 1,361

2.97 4.31

.47 .57

Philodendron seiloum

(lacy tree phi lodendron)

ChloroPhYtum el atum(green spider p-_)

Scindapsus aureus

(golden pothos )

11,403 4,665 2,747 2,373 2.84 3.65

12,975 7,319 2,709 2,471 2.29 4.15

10,741 4,325 1,854 2,723 2.35 3.26

Agl onema modestum

(Chinese evergreen)

11,248 8,238 6,866 1,894 1.59 2.31

A1oe vera 2,592 1,037 259 713 2.18 3.27

Brassaia arboricol a

(mini'scheff Iera )

8,333 .... 4,904 1,743 1.96

Spathiphyl lum 'clevelandi i'

(peace lily)

10,298 6,655 5,387 3,476 1.05 1.41

Peperomia obtusi fol ia 10,140 6,9/1 5,387 3,264

(peperomi a )

0.96 1.46

Uracaena fragrans 'massangeana'

(corn plant;

10,003 7,878 5,974 2,934 0.72 1.37

Sansevieria trifasciata

(mother-in-1 aw tongue )

9,330 5,636 2,954 4,881 0.76 1.31

Tradescantia si1lamontana 10,298 7,341 5,704 6,843

(oyster plant)i III IIiIIi i I I I iI iiI II fill i I I iiiI I I i I i III 9If II II Ii III iIi III I I I I IiI Ii I I I I I III I I I I IIIIIqIII I I I I I I I I 4III 4II I I I qII

*Average of three or more different experiments

0.43 0.67

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FIGURE 3

Benzene

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5

Reduction in Closed Chamber WithWithout Plants

and

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Philodendron domesticum

..... Scindapsus aureus

(Golden pothos)

00000000000000000 0000

7 14 21 28 35 42 49Hours

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INDOOR AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEMCOMBINING HOUSEPLANTS AND

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POLLUTED INDOOR AIR

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POTTING

SPDER PLANT

100

SMALLAIR PUMP

llk PI__ AIR BACKICrO HOME

FIGURE 6

FIGURE7

• • WINDOW PLANTER COMBINED CARBON AND SPIDER PLANT FILTER SYSTEM FOR

REMOVING INDOOR AIR POLI.UTANTS.FROM ENERGY EFFICIENT CONDOMINIUMS.

WINDOW PLANTER

CRUSHEDLAVA ROCK

' INTERIORPOLLUTED

.... AIR

SPIDER PLANTAIR PUMP WITHTIMER SYSTEM

GRANULARACTIVATED

CARBON

POTTING SOIL

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FIGURE 8

B IOLO-GI'CA'L .....AIR _AN_D.........WASTEWAT'E'R ..........................................

HIGHSURFACE

AREA MEDIA

OFFICES

TREATEDWASTEWATER