Transpiring, phytoncidal and gas-absorbing properties of indoor plants and their role in improving the air quality in preschool environments

BACKGROUND: The high incidence of respiratory diseases among children attending preschool educational institutions highlights the need for prevention of respiratory tract infections. With children spending on average up to 10 hours a day in educational settings, the quality of the indoor air environment, including microbial contamination and low relative humidity, poses a risk for respiratory diseases. Placing a selection of plants in organized groups of children can offer a promising and cost-effective approach to promote health and well-being in the modern preschool education system.

AIM: To select indoor plants based on their species and quantity to improve the air quality in organized children’s groups. Moreover, the paper presents recommendations for the installation and maintenance of the plants to create healthier environment for children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among more than 820 species of indoor plants, we have identified the most suitable options for preschool institutions. The selection process involved measuring the dimensions of the plants and the surface area of their leaves using a metric method. To assess the air quality, we conducted air sampling throughout the working week, once per hour, using an aspiration method with a sampling device PU-1B. Simultaneously, we measured the microclimate parameters in all the rooms included in the study. Furthermore, we studied the gas absorption capacity of indoor plants in controlled laboratory conditions within seed chambers with a volume of 200 liters.

RESULTS: In rooms where plants were present, the levels of microorganisms varied. The average relative humidity values in all rooms were consistently below the hygienic standard of 40–60%, as outlined in SanPiN 1.2.3685-21, except for specific times. At 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 18:00, the relative humidity ranged from 15–35%. When exposed to a formaldehyde concentration of 3 times the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) Chlorophytum comosum reduced it to the regulated value of 0.01 MPC within 38 hours while the corresponding values for Sansevieria trifasciata and Cyperus alternifolius were 24 and 27 hours, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Introducing a variety of indoor plants into a preschool educational setting can have significant benefits for air quality. The plants possess phytoncidal, transpiring, and gas-absorbing properties that contribute to a reduction in the overall number of microorganisms, a decrease in chemical pollutants, and an increase in air humidity. Our analysis showed that in the presence of indoor plants, the concentration of formaldehyde decreases to a regulated and safe level.