It was a very exciting time for me when I moved into a new townhouse a couple of years ago, but it wasn’t without health risks. Suddenly, I developed upper respiratory ailments, and severe headaches, dizziness, and nausea, just to mention a few of my complaints. What was going on? I wanted to know.

Well, moving into a new home or remodeling the one you have, or simply buying new carpet, painting, all add toxins to your environment. Studies by the EPA indicate that indoor air pollution is one of our fastest growing environmental problems. Copy machines, printers, rug pads, insulation and other synthetic materials, veneer furniture, products made of pressed wood and plywood, smoke, and detergents all give off pollutants, such as benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, ammonia and formaldehyde. .

What can be done about it? Well, good news, did you know that plants reduce indoor pollution and provide us with a healthier physical atmosphere? Plants absorb pollutants occurring microorganisms break down the chemicals. Some absorption and breakdown occurs in the potting soil.

Research on plant filtering first began with NASA where the need to find ways to reduce the high amount of pollutants emitted by equipment on the space shuttle was discovered. Researchers at the National Space Technology Lab found that houseplants reduced pollutants, particularly nitrogen and formaldehyde, and removed 85 per cent of the pollutants in a day. As few as 15 house plants can significantly reduce pollutants in the average home or, one potted plant for every 100 square feet of floor space.

Besides controlling gaseous pollution in the home, plant leaves clean air by trapping particulate matter. And, in their natural process of respiration, plants absorb our waste product - - carbon dioxide - - and furnish us oxygen and moisture.

Here’s a partial list of the sources of indoor air pollution and best plant to use:

Formaldehyde: Carpeting, pressed wood, fiberboard, foam insulation, paper products.

Use - Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, Sansevieria and Spider Plant.

Hydrocarbons: Vinyl furniture, detergents, fabric softener:

Use - Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, Sansevieria and Spider Plant.

Nitrogen Dioxide: Malfunctions furnaces, water heaters, leaking chimneys:

Use - Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, Sansevieria and Spider Plant.

Benzene: Glue spot remover, paint, varnish, paint stripper:

Use - Dracaena, English Ivy and Spathiphyllum

Methylene Chloride: Paint stripper, aerosols:

Use - Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, Sansevieria and Spider Plant.

Trichloroethylene: Ink, paint, lacquer, varnish, adhesive:

Use - Dracaena and Spathiphyllum