Environmental pollution is one of the most worrying health problems today and its harmful effects on health are widely known. Air pollution is defined as the release of chemical substances into the atmosphere, thus affecting its composition; this fact represents a high risk for disease in all living beings. The most common polluting gases are carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides that come from industry and gases produced by vehicles.
Never the less, we almost never think about the possibility of pollution in our own home. Inside our houses, air can be contaminated with benzene; this substance can be found in the air, in water or in the soil. It comes from natural or industrial sources. Because it is widely used, benzene is one of the 20 most common chemical substances produced by that US industry. Industries can use benzene to manufacture products like plastic, synthetic fibers, detergents, medicines or pesticides. It may also come from cigarette smoke. In the body, benzene has been linked to almost any type of cellular disruption, specially in blood cells, associated with leukemia.
Other pollutants that are linked with health problems, like xylene (a benzene derivative), chloroform ( still used in the chemical industry to produce aerosols and plastics ) and trichloroethylene ( use in stain removers and adhesives ) can be found in the air that we breath.
One of the most economic ways to purify the air at home, is by using plants. Not all plants have the capacity to function as air purifiers. Here are 4 examples of plants that can be used to clean the air at our house:
1. Bamboo: eliminates benzene, carbon monoxide, chloroform and xylene from air, leaving it more pure.
2. Lilies: these plants have aromatic flowers with a sweet scent, they easily purify the air, eliminating benzene, trichloroethylene and other toxins.
3. Chrysanthemum: its one of the most effective plants in eliminating benzene. Plus, their very pretty flower help decorate your house.
4. Daisies: it’s an interesting fact that, while most plants produce oxygen by day and carbon dioxide by night, daisies produce oxygen all night long. So they make a good choice for bedrooms.
Using these plants is very helpful, but it’s also important to use organic, natural non -toxic cleaners and detergents, and avoid pesticides.
These are very simple changes that can make a big difference in your family’s health!
