Abstract
Active plant-based systems are emerging technologies that aim to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). A person’s olfactory system is able to recognize the perceived odor intensity of various materials relatively well, and in many cases, the nose seems to be a better perceiver of pollutants than some equipment is. The aim of this study was to assess the odor coming out of two different test chambers in the SenseLab, where the participants were asked to evaluate blindly the level of acceptability, intensity, odor recognition, and preference at individual level with their noses. Two chambers were furnished with the same amount of new flooring material, and one of the chambers, Chamber A, also included an active plant-based system. The results showed that in general, the level of odor intensity was lower in Chamber B than in Chamber A, the level of acceptability was lower in Chamber A than in Chamber B, and the participants identified similar sources in both chambers. Finally, the preference was slightly higher for Chamber B over Chamber A. When people do not see the interior details of a room and have to rely on olfactory perception, they prefer a room without plants.
Highlights
The improvement of indoor air quality (IAQ) is a constant and significant concern among researchers
The temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO2 concentration inside of the Chambers A and B at each of the session days are presented in Figures 5–7, respectively
The aim of the study was to assess the perceived air quality coming out of two different test chambers in the SenseLab: Chamber A, which was furnished with new carpet tiles and an active plant-based system, and Chamber B, which was furnished with the same amount of carpet tiles as in Chamber A, but without the active plant-based system
Summary
The improvement of indoor air quality (IAQ) is a constant and significant concern among researchers. Plants, which are generally not mentioned in the list of pollutant sources, can be, according to several findings, a source that can pollute as well as clean the air [6]. Numerous studies have described, evaluated, and analyzed the effect of passive plants on cleaning the indoor air [9,10,11,12,13,14]. In which the air cleaning effect of formaldehyde by potted plants was tested in a laboratory study, it was concluded that to meet the minimum ventilation rates in breathing zones, it is necessary to introduce at least 36–42 plants for every square meter of floor space [15].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International journal of environmental research and public health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
