Native Ornamental Potted Plants for Sustainable Improvement of Indoor Air Quality

摘要

Ornamental potted plant are often proposed as a passive approach for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) enter indoor environments through internal and external sources. Indoor air concentrations of VOCs vary greatly but are generally higher than outdoors. Plants have been promoted as indoor air purifiers for decades, but reports of their effectiveness differ. The aim of this study was to determine the selective of several potted indoor and outdoor species plants which can sustain and improve indoor air quality by using the native species plants. The experimental design was a complete randomised design experiment with four replications and it was conducted at the Horticulture Research Centre laboratory. Different native ornamental potted plants species such as Eugenia sp.; Scindapsus pictus; Schismatoglottis sp.; Tradescantia pallida; Piper porphyrophyllum; Alocasia reginula; Ledebouria socialis; Peperomia sp. and Ledebouria petiolata respectively had a different significant effects on absorption of the VOCs gases. The maximum and significant absorption of potted indoor plants species tested sequently was from Ledebouria socialis; Eugenia sp.; Piper porphyrophyllum; Peperomia sp.; Scindapsus pictus; Tradescantia pallida; Ledebouria petiolata; Alocasia reginula and Schismatoglottis sp. The leaf area, having moderate function of VOCs gas absorption did not drastically reduce the VOCs gas volume. Overall, the data from the laboratory studies illustrate the potential for indoor plants leaves to be used as air purifier and indoor air VOC samplers.