What purification functions do flowering plants have?
Society is developing and life is improving, but health "killers" harmful to the human body are also everywhere, and they are getting closer and closer to human life. Even in the family home where you spend the most time and have the most contact, there is environmental pollution everywhere. According to data, the places with the highest concentrations of dust and toxic gases are sometimes in residents' homes. Air pollution in kitchens and living rooms is sometimes more than ten times, a hundred times, or even higher than outdoor pollution under ordinary circumstances.
I. What kinds of household environmental pollution are there?
1. Pollution brought by building and decorative, renovation materials
The concrete used in building houses has additives such as antifreeze agents, expansion agents, and early-strength agents added to increase setting speed and prevent low temperatures. These additives contain large amounts of ammonia-based substances. As environmental factors such as temperature and humidity change, these ammonia-based substances in the walls are reduced to ammonia gas and slowly released from the walls. In the process of indoor renovation and the making of various types of furniture, various plywoods, veneer panels, particleboards, laminated and composite flooring, and the like are used in large quantities. The free formaldehyde contained in the adhesives used in these floors is gradually released after renovation and during furniture use. According to spot checks and inspections of indoor decorative and renovation materials by national health and environmental protection departments, more than 60% of the materials have toxic gas pollution. These materials are one of the main sources of indoor environmental pollution and can cause many diseases of the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and other organs.
2. Pollution brought by volatile substances released by furniture
At present, the quality of furniture materials on the market varies greatly, and some furniture and the materials used to make it contain formaldehyde, benzene, and various other pollutants. Relevant information from the Indoor Environment Testing Center of the China Indoor Decoration Association shows that indoor air pollution caused by furniture has become another major pollution source after building pollution and renovation pollution. Some experts believe that indoor decorative materials such as plywood, blockboard, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard and other artificial panels pollute indoor air to a considerable degree.
Pollution caused by the use of daily necessities. People also unknowingly "produce" large amounts of toxic gases in daily life. For example, gas combustion in kitchens and bathrooms, cooking fumes, and shower heating all produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, inhalable particulate matter, halogenated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other toxic pollutants; mousse, hairspray, and similar hair products, air fresheners, cleaners, and the like sometimes also produce toluene, p-xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and other toxic and harmful chemical gases; the extensive use of air conditioners in cities is also a source of indoor pollution. When air conditioners operate, because the interior of the air conditioner is relatively humid and the temperature is suitable, it becomes a gathering place for many bacteria. While exchanging indoor and outdoor air, air conditioners also bring large amounts of bacteria indoors, thereby causing biological pollution of the indoor environment.
3. Pollution brought by the surrounding environment
In addition, the surrounding environment of the home also brings a certain amount of pollution indoors. Nearby chemical plants, smelters, construction sites, automobile traffic, and the like all release large amounts of ammonia, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorides, and various other toxic gases as well as various dusts. These toxic and harmful gases and dust drift into family homes with the atmosphere and are also important "accomplices" in indoor environmental pollution.
II. How do flowers and plants purify the home environment?
It has long been known that plants can absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, but in addition to this, many plants also absorb other carbon-containing substances, including volatile organic compounds harmful to human health. Research has found that placing one living green plant 1.2-1.5 m tall per 10 cubic meters indoors can effectively absorb carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, and other harmful gases. In addition, some plants can also convert harmful chemical substances into plant nutrients. Therefore, green plants have a good purifying effect on indoor air pollution.
1. Absorbing toxic gases
Many flowers and plants have the ability to absorb toxic gases. For example, snake plant can remove large amounts of formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, and other toxic gases; spider plant can "swallow" 95% of indoor carbon monoxide, 85% of formaldehyde, 80% of benzene, and 50% of trichloroethylene; in addition, orchid tree, geranium, corn poppy, sago palm, and others have the ability to absorb harmful gases and resist pollution.
2. Adsorbing dust
Many plants with larger leaf areas and hairs on the leaf surface, such as Boston ivy, wintersweet, cotton rose, palm, and Chinese hibiscus, have strong dust adsorption ability and can effectively reduce particulate pollutants in indoor air.
3. Releasing sterilizing substances
Some plants, such as cactus, ball cactus, epiphyllum, and orchids, not only do not exhale carbon dioxide at night, but instead absorb carbon dioxide. While purifying the air, they can also produce oxygen and release sterilizing substances, thereby achieving a sterilizing effect.
4. Regulating indoor gas balance, increasing air humidity, and improving indoor air comfort
Most flowers and plants, such as African violet, cymbidium, moth orchid, and China pink, while absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, can also increase air humidity and negative ion concentration, making the air fresh and enhancing comfort.