"Bringing In Houseplants for 'Cleaner Air'... Surprising Results Disappoint Many"

It would take hundreds of plants to supply enough oxygen for one person
Ventilation is more important than plants for indoor air quality management

Indoor potted plants, often referred to as "air-purifying plants," have been found to produce a quantity of oxygen far insufficient compared to the amount consumed by humans.

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On October 5 (local time), the Guardian reported that, in typical indoor environments, it is difficult to generate adequate oxygen with just a few pots.

Professor John Tregoning of Imperial College explained, "In a typical indoor setting, a single potted plant produces only a few liters of oxygen per day." In contrast, one person consumes about 500 liters of oxygen daily. Therefore, it would require hundreds of potted plants to provide enough oxygen for a single person each day.

Professor Tregoning added, "An unreasonable number of plants would be needed to fill a room." He also pointed out that this estimate assumes the plants receive enough light to perform photosynthesis actively.

Numerous studies have previously indicated that indoor plants can serve as a kind of "natural air purifier." The expression "air-purifying plants" became widespread, particularly after some research showed that plants could remove certain pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in sealed environments.

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However, later studies considering more realistic indoor environments found that the effectiveness of plants in purifying air may be limited. In 2019, researchers at Drexel University in the United States conducted a comprehensive analysis of previous experiments, revealing that at least 10 to as many as 1,000 plants per square meter would be needed to remove indoor pollutants at a rate comparable to natural air exchange. Such requirements are impractical for most regular households.

Experts advise that good ventilation is more effective for maintaining clean indoor air than increasing the number of potted plants. Professor Tregoning explained, "In spaces where several people are together, high carbon dioxide concentrations can make you feel foggy or tired, and lack of ventilation can also allow respiratory illnesses such as colds to spread more easily."

That said, this does not mean that potted plants are entirely without value. Some studies have observed that indoor plants may help stabilize mood and enhance focus or productivity. Potential benefits for humidity control and psychological comfort have also been mentioned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.