Cultivating indoor health
Our grandmothers were right: a research confirms that plants can actually decrease the pollution indoors.
Considering the amount of time we spend today at home and at work we have to fear is particularly ozone pollution, the gas known for its action as a barrier to harmful UV rays.
This gas, so useful in the stratosphere to avoid the greenhouse effect, focusing on the ground can become a serious health risk.
Prolonged exposure can lead to pulmonary edema in fact, a condition that seriously in the United States causes two million deaths a year.
Research conducted at Pennsylvania State University establish the usefulness of some common houseplants in lowering the levels of ozone in indoor environments.
Economic, easy maintenance, and certainly more practical for a charcoal filter, decorative plants as sansevieria, Chlorophytum Scindapsus and preserve homes and offices by the accumulation of harmful gases.
Other research conducted by NASA in the past advised ivy, ficus, gerberas, spatiphyllum to maintain low levels of benzene and trichlorethylene.
The problem of contamination of indoor air pollution, in addition to pollution from particulate matter and CO2, the use of air conditioning systems and technologies that affect air quality.
In Italy the problem known as sick building syndrome (SBS) and is treated with skepticism. Copiers and laser printers release chemicals (ozone, solvents, toner powder), which focus causing inflammation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract with sneezing, coughing.
These symptoms are getting worse with time up to bring hemorrhage and pulmonary edema. Particularly at risk are pregnant women and those predisposed.
To avoid risks such technologies should be placed in ventilated, or where air exchange guaranteed by a modern and regularly maintained, equipped with appropriate filters.
There are also (usually at prohibitive prices) printing technologies with low emissions of ozone.
Now, we know that virtually none of these precautions are observed, and the risk to the health, well documented extensively, is treated with fatalism.
Want to laziness, due to lack of funds, or perhaps for lack of organization, it is preferred to temporize.
Studies like this allow once more to introduce in indoor environments is a small garden of plants
green, as insurance for their health.
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Tags: botany , cultivation , gardening , information
