Five plants have been identified in a study as aiding in air purification when used in what designers refer to as a “green wall.”
Though modern medicine could never be replaced, herbs and plants were used to benefit human health for thousands of years. Some such plants can even purify the air around you, removing harmful pollutants that could have negative health detriments.
Going green equals breathing better
In a new study published in the journal, Science of the Total Environment, researchers at the University of Surrey identified five key plants to include in your green wall.
Despite having origins in ancient times, Green walls are a fairly new architectural concept that brings together modern innovation and mother nature. They can be both inside and outside and contain just about every plant imaginable.
To conduct their study, researchers planted 10 species on a custom-built 1.4m green wall beside the A3 road in Guildford.
“By planting vertically on a green wall, communities can clean up their air without taking up too much street space,” said postgraduate researcher Mamatha Tomson. “Our study suggests that this process depends not only on the shape of its leaves but on the micromorphological properties of their surfaces. We think a good mixture of species will produce the most effective green walls – and look forward to carrying out further research to see if we’re right.”
Which plants worked the best?
Plants work to purify the air in a number of ways, including catching pollutants on their leaves. The five plants they noticed had the biggest effect included, Evergreen, Candytuft, Ivy leaves, Lavender, and Majoram.
Prashant Kumar, director of the University’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research, added: “We hope that town planners and infrastructure experts can use our findings to think more carefully about what they plant.
“Having a green wall is a great way of removing pollution – but what you plant on it can make a big difference to how successful it will be.”
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