Sometimes, the most surprising discoveries come from unexpected places. A similar experience happened when a California teenager decided to test whether a simple houseplant could do more than beautify a room. The teen was highly interested in science, and scientific curiosity led to a great and unexpected discovery!
Can an Ivy actually clean the surroundings?
The young researcher Ryan Kim shared his experiment at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s annual meeting in Anaheim, California. It was also co-authored by Hilary Spyers-Duran of West Coast Clinical Trials in Long Beach, California. His experiment revealed strong air-cleansing potential in English ivy. Over a 12-hour period, the plant reduced airborne mold particles by approximately 78.5% and fecal matter particulates by over 94%.
How did he set up his experiment?
Kim placed moldy bread and canine feces in sealed containers, with measurements taken before and after placement with the English ivy. After six hours, mold decreased by about 60% and fecal particles by 58%; after twelve hours, reductions rose to 78% and 94%, respectively.
How does ivy “clean” air?
According to co-author Hilary Spyers-Duran, a nurse practitioner and investigator at West Coast Clinical Trials, “Aerosolized proteins are actually absorbed through the roots and soil of the plant,” she explained, telling how ivy may trap and filter harmful particles from the air.
Spyers-Duran suggested, “This may be a better alternative, and more cost-effective” than an electronic air purifier (HealthDay). The idea can be a natural alternative to artificial air purifiers as a low-maintenance plant that does something typically handled by machines.
However, indoor-air specialist Jeffrey Siegel from the University of Texas, who studies building air quality, warns that one should actually prevent contaminants from entering the home in the first place. He also pointed out the limitations of small-scale tests compared to real rooms, noting that soil itself can emit microbes or pollutants.
While this alternative might look interesting, English ivy comes with clear warnings that it is toxic to humans and pets if ingested, so it shouldn’t be placed where children or animals can reach it.
How do conventional air purifiers compare to this?
At the same conference, researchers tested three air purifier brands in mold-infested homes. A Honeywell HEPA filter unit cleared 72–84% of mold particles within one hour. In contrast, other purifiers showed much lower removal rates: around 43–50% for Living Air and only 16–28% for the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze, even after three hours.
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