Selection of resistant species of indoor plants for the health improvement the air environment of interiors

Andrey Tsitsilin ,T V Fateeva

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202126504005

Abstract

Our studies show that at low illuminance, close to the light compensation point, plants of all studied species (Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng, Rhoicissus rhomboidea (E. Mey. ex Harv.) Planch., Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) have a smaller total leaves area and low decorative qualities, and they have not antimicrobial activity. Plants grown under illuminance from 500 to 2000 lux, depending on the species, form a large above-ground biomass, live several times longer, have a pronounced phytoncidal effect (antimicrobal activity) on air microflora and Staphylococcus aureus. The maximum phytoncidal activity of E. cardamomum, P. amboinicus and R. rhomboidea are observed at an illuminance of 2000 lux (respectively 29 %, 36 % and 24 %). Phytoncidal activity decreases 2-3 times with a decline in the illuminance level to 500 lux, and in Indian borage, as a more light-loving plant, it disappears altogether. Phytoncidal activity of P. amboinicus(Indian borage) is 32% in relation to Staphylococcus aureus strain 209- P. Phytocompositions from resistant species of indoor plants reduce the number of microorganisms in the air of classrooms of secondary school by 45% -58%, and ones of primary school - by 5.2-7.3 times.

Highlights

Interest of using of plants in interior landscaping in Russia and the world is constantly at a high level. This is explained by the many positive effects observed with this use of plants: improvement of the surrounding air environment by increasing the content of beneficial negative and reducing the concentration of harmful plus air ions, reducing the content of dust and harmful gaseous substances, increasing air humidity, decreasing the number of pathogenic microorganisms, etc
Scientists have searched the influence of plants in the reduction in the air of the interiors where they grow, harmful gaseous impurities that appear in the rooms, due to the use of finishing materials in construction or due to external sources air pollution [1,2,3,4,5]
NASA scientists have proven the effectiveness of using more than 30 species of indoor plants in air pollution with harmful chemical compounds: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethanol, carbon monoxide, xylene, toluene [6,7,8]

Summary

Introduction

Interest of using of plants in interior landscaping in Russia and the world is constantly at a high level. The phytoncidal activity of plants was found, i.e. a decrease in the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the air around them.

Results

Conclusion