Air pollution is one of the many issues that we encounter in our environment today. There are a lot of factors which contribute to air pollution that is present in our society. It is common to have air pollution if your area is in a highly urbanized location. Due to urbanization, construction of buildings and establishments requires to clear out trees and plants. Most of us tend to stay indoors to be safe from the pollution, but are you safe indoors? AIRY pots might be able to help you with that.
Trees and plants are mother earth’s natural air purifier. So we try to put indoor plants which purify the air. What if the plants’ purifying properties can be amplified? The people who are responsible for this innovative plant pot are from AIRY GreenTech GmbH, hailing from Hamburg, Germany. These guys are Peer-Arne Böttcher, Helge Knickmeier, and Kai Pohlmann.
How does the AIRY pot work?
According to NASA’s study, plants clean the air through their root system. An AIRY pot does not work as a regular flower/plant pot. It has a unique and patented ventilation system which provides optimal air flow to the root system of the plant. The slits at the bottom of the flower pot allow air to reach the roots. There is also a two-chamber system that creates a stacking effect providing a permanent air flow past the roots.
One AIRY can purify 40 cubic meters of air within 24 hours. That is equivalent to a 16 square meter room. During this time, Airy converts the pollutants present in the room as food nutrients for the plant. So Airy purifies the air without the use of electricity or any expensive products for air purification.
It has also been proven effective by the Fraunhofer Institute after conducting multiple tests on a normal pot and an AIRY pot and measuring the effectiveness of absorbing toxins in the air. It is said that the concentration of Xylol was reduced to 17% and 30% of Toluol, whereas there is no change in reduction for traditional pots.
Here are the links to the test (in German) conducted by the institute:
- https://airy.de/media/Fraunhofer-Institut-AIRY-Untersuchungsbericht-Formaldehyd_DE.pdf
- https://airy.de/media/Fraunhofer-Institut-Airy-Untersuchungsbericht-ToluolXylol_DE.pdf
For more proof of the AIRY pot capabilities, visit this link in English language.
Worried about the plants’ well-being? No need to worry because Airy takes care of the plants for you. As said earlier the patented design allows proper ventilation of the roots and a water reservoir to make the plant grow healthy and provide you with clean air at the same time.
How does a plant purify the air?
The plants absorb air pollutants thru the stomata. The stomata are located on the under the surface of the plant’s leaves. During night time or if the plant is under stress, the stomata close and the absorption of the pollutants present in the air also halts. This is why the AIRY is designed to have a ventilated bottom to make way for the roots of the purifying plant to absorb these harmful pollutants indoors. The roots of the plants generate enzymes that break down the pollutants into glucose, amino acids, and other nutrients which make the plant healthy.
Samples of indoor pollutants are as follows:
- Carbon monoxide
- Radon
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Secondhand smoke
- Lead particles
- Asbestos
- Mold
All these indoor air pollutants are present in our couches, bed and all the appliances that we use for everyday living. It really helps if we have natural air purifiers like plants both inside and outside our home that absorb all these pollutants and make the quality of the air suitable for our health.
What are the common pollutants we encounter everyday?
These air pollutants are actually present in our furniture, toys, garments, electronics, and toys. Substances from these objects trigger reactions in our body that makes us sick. Some factors like smoking, cooking, using materials for your craft and arts are also producing pollutants which in the long run can be bad for our well-being.
Here are some of the conventional air pollutants that we may not know about, that are present indoors:
- Formaldehyde – found in our clothing, MDF wood, cardboard, furniture, insulation materials, cleaning fluids and cigarette smoke. It triggers allergies, nose and eye irritations, memory loss, lack of sleep and poor concentration. It is also a carcinogen.
- Toluene – found in paint, printers, copy machines, computer monitor, floor covering, wallpapers and tobacco smoke. It causes nerve and kidney damage. It could also cause damage to the reproductive system.
- Benzene – found in paints, printer and printer cartridges, plastic products, scanners and copy machines. It could cause vertigo, nausea, headache, and apathy. It is a carcinogen and can damage the DNA in prolonged periods.
- Trichloroethylene – found in printer cartridges, varnishes, paints, glue, household detergents, printers, and computers. It could cause skin and eye irritation and also tiredness. It is a carcinogen and can compromise your health strongly.
- Ammonia – found in fertilizers for agriculture and if exposed to air, it becomes a nitrogenous compound. It could cause skin, eye and mucous membrane irritation. It can trigger chronic cough and asthma.
- Phthalates – found in plasticizers for plastics in consumer goods, floor coverings, toys and plastic sheets. It could cause changes to hormones that lead to diabetes, weight gain and is also dangerous to the reproductive system.
To minimize or eliminate these indoor pollutants, you can place these plants indoors. Here are some of the plants that could help out in absorbing these harmful pollutants.
- Chlorophytum comosum or Spider plants – is a quick growing plant that is best when being hanged in your home or workplace. It is a low maintenance plant and sometimes would bloom white blossoms. They eliminated formaldehyde and xylene in the air. Non-toxic to children and pets.
- Epipremnum aureum or Golden Pothos – it is usually called the devil’s ivy. This plant is close to being indestructible, and it could grow up to 8 feet long. It is one of the most effective air purifiers for removing common toxins indoors. Water this plant when the soil becomes dry. This is toxic to pets so keep it off from them. It eliminates almost all harmful toxins indoors like formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, toluene and a lot more.
- Chamaedorea seifrizii or Bamboo Palms – it is an elegant and sturdy plant. It is also a low maintenance plant and likes bright but not direct sunlight. This plant provides moisture in the air. To care for this plant just keep the soil moist but not wet and place them in an open area to provide free-flowing air and also spray with water occasionally to avoid spider mites. This plant is also safe for your pets, and it absorbs toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, carbon monoxide, chloroform and many more.
These are the most common plants that we can put indoors. They serve 2 purposes, as an ornamental decoration and an air purifier. Pair it with the AIRY pot, and it will amplify the absorptions of the toxins present in your home.
To check other plants that could suit your needs, you can visit this site and start decorating and purifying your air indoors. You can currently get an AIRY pot for $79.99 on Amazon and check the buyer’s review there if you are curious. What do you think about this product? Let us know down the comments below.
YouTube: AIRY in a nutshell
Photo credit: All images used have been provided by AIRY for press usage.
