Can houseplants really purify the air? This question has been hotly debated for years – and almost always a big name comes up: NASA. Its legendary Clean Air Study from the 1980s is still cited today when it comes to the air-purifying effects of plants. 🌿 But what exactly did NASA investigate? And what does that mean for us today – in living rooms, bedrooms, and offices?
We take a closer look at the study, classify it scientifically, and show what modern systems like AIRY have learned from it.
🌌 Why is NASA interested in plants?
Quite simple: NASA was looking for a solution for the space station. In closed systems like space, clean air is vital for survival – but technological filtration systems are maintenance-intensive, expensive, and non-regenerative. Plants, on the other hand...
- produce oxygen,
- increase the humidity
- and – so the hypothesis – filter pollutants from the air.
So NASA tested various plants for their ability to eliminate air pollutants – and found success.
📄 What exactly did the NASA Clean Air Study investigate?
The study officially titled "Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement" was conducted in 1989 by Dr. B. C. Wolverton.
🧪 Experimental setup:
- Plants were placed in sealed plexiglass chambers.
- The air was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene, or trichloroethylene.
- After 24 hours, it was measured how much of the pollutants had been absorbed by the plants.
📉 Result:
Many plants were able to significantly reduce the concentration of these substances – by up to 90% in some cases. The following were particularly effective:
| plant | Removed pollutants |
|---|
| Pothos (Epipremnum) | Formaldehyde, Benzene, Xylene |
| Green lily (Chlorophytum) | Formaldehyde, carbon monoxide |
| Bow hemp (Sansevieria) | Benzol, Formaldehyd |
| Chrysantheme | Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde, Ammonia |
| Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) | VOCs allgemein |
The study is still considered a milestone in research on plant-based air purification.
🧐 And what's the catch?
The enthusiasm was great – plants as natural air purifiers! But: The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, not in real living spaces. And that makes a huge difference.
❗️ Reality check:
- The plexiglass boxes had a volume of only 1 m³.
- There was no air exchange, no windows, no movement.
- The air was enriched with extremely high concentrations of pollutants – significantly more than is normally found in living spaces.
🔬 Today's studies show: In real apartments or offices, one plant per room is not enough to achieve significant effects.
→ A study by RWTH Aachen (Dr. Giese, 2010) found that in a typical office space, several large plants are needed to reduce VOCs to measurable levels.
💡 The crucial insight: The root makes the difference
An often overlooked aspect of the NASA study is the realization that actual air purification occurs not primarily through the leaves, but through the roots and microorganisms in the substrate.
> 🔍 Plant root zones – the so-called rhizosphere – host billions of microbes that can break down and transform pollutants.
The better the airflow through the root area, the more effective this biological cleaning process.
🌱 Modern systems like the one from AIRY focus precisely on this.
🌿 AIRY: The Evolution of the NASA Idea
Based on the findings of NASA, AIRY has developed a system that directs air specifically through the earth and the root ball – completely without electricity or fans.
🔁 This is how a natural air purification cycle is created:
1. Air is drawn into the substrate through side openings.
2. Pollutants are broken down by microorganisms in the root zone.
3. The purified air is released back into the environment by the plant.
According to internal measurements and independent assessments, the AIRY system cleans the air up to 8 times more effectively than a conventional plant pot – fully in line with the NASA idea, but practical for real spaces.
📊 Facts at a Glance
| Claim | Truthfulness |
|---|
| Plants can purify air | ✅ Yes, scientifically proven |
| NASA has proven that. | ✅ Under laboratory conditions |
| One plant is enough for a living room. | ❌ Not realistic |
| Effect through leaves | ❌ Only a small part of the cleaning |
| Root system is crucial | ✅ Central cleaning effect |
| AIRY multiplies the effectiveness | ✅ Through active airflow |
🏁 Conclusion: What remains from the NASA study?
The NASA Clean Air Study has sparked a whole movement – and rightly so. It demonstrates the enormous potential of plants in air purification. But, as with so many things, the idea is brilliant – but it is the application that makes it effective.
With modern approaches like the AIRY system, NASA's scientific foundation is being integrated into everyday life – for healthier, greener, and fresher spaces.
Or as one might say:
🌱 Houston, we have no problem – we have plants! 🌬️
