Chemically, black carbon or BC is a component of fine particulate matter PM ≤ 2.5 µm. It is formed through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass.

Black carbon causes human morbidity and premature mortality. Short-term and long-term exposures to PM2.5 are associated with a broad range of human health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular effects as well as premature death.

BC stays in the atmosphere for only several days to weeks, while carbon dioxide (CO₂) has an atmospheric lifetime of more than 100 years but the impact of BC is much stronger because BC interacts with clouds, warms the Earth by absorbing heat and light in the atmosphere and by reducing albedo (reflectivity) when deposited on snow and ice.

Sources

• 42% Open biomass burning (forest and savanna burning)
• 18% Residential biofuel burned with traditional technologies
• 14% Diesel engines for transportation (Probably lot more)
• 10% Diesel engines for industrial use
• 10% Industrial processes and power generation, usually from smaller boilers
• 6% Residential coal burned with traditional technologies

Impacts

• Public health
• Climate
• Global warming

Solutions

Reducing emissions of BC immediately! Thank you Volkswagen for all those years of contamination! (#diselgate)

First, harmful substances and VOCs waft from countless sources in our daily lives, including adhesives, ceiling tiles, photocopiers, wall paint, furnitures, upholstery etc.

We can find the key to our answer from NASA’s experiment, they found that plants absorb airborne pollutants as part of their normal “breathing” process (CO2 carbon dioxide in, O2 oxygen out) and transport them to their roots, where microbes feed on and detoxify them.

As result we need to have in mind that that roots and the soil are very important for optimum results. I will talk about this in the future.

The scientists have measured the filtering capacity of specific plants by putting them into sealed chambers and releasing toxic chemicals, then measuring how much of each chemical remains at 12-hour intervals. The results have been stunning. They found that the most effective plants had a high transpiration rate and they emit more moisture into the environment. This is the result of a natural pumping action. As plants pull air down to their roots, they pump moisture out. They have also found that over time at least one plant, the lady palm, actually becomes more efficient at disposing of the gas.

Is recommend using a mix of plants, two or three plants in 8-inch or 10-inch pots for every 100 square feet of floor space. Now be aware that the more plants you have more excessive humidity you will get, which can contribute to the growth of mold and bacteria. To help prevent that, don’t let your plants sit in stagnant water. Once the water has drained through the soil into the tray below, remove it.  Sub-irrigation planters are a fair option but you have to discourage mold from growing on top of the soil by covering it with moss or gravel.

My personal recommendation is to keep a plant on top of your work desk, on top of your night stand and next to your sofa which are your personal breathing zones.

Chlorophytum comosum aka Spider Plant or airplane plant or hen-and-chickens is native to tropical and southern Africa plant but it is easy to grow as a houseplant.

With lots of long leaves and tiny white flowers, the spider plant is able to eliminate formaldehyde, toluene and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries. As an added bonus, this plant is also considered a safe houseplant if you have pets in the house, (remember Snake Plant isn’t). It is also an efficient filter of carbon monoxide. An effective place to grow spider plants is near fireplaces, kitchens and offices.

Likes bright, indirect light or fluorescent lighting, remember to use room temperature rain or purified water. Let the pot surface feel dry to the touch before watering. Water until water drains from the bottom and empty drained water from trays promptly. Remember to repot them in case they grow too big.

Keep it between 40ºF/4.5ºC and 85ºF/29.5ºC.

Aloe Vera is my second must have home plant for many reasons. First of all it is an easy to grow plant, that loves the sun and helps clear the air from formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. Aloe is a great choice for sunny kitchen windows and bedrooms. Besides its air-clearing abilities, the aloe gel inside the plant can help heal cuts, burns and other skin issues.

Like Snake Plant, Aloe Vera also produces Oxygen O2 during night time.

If you are planning to grow Aloe Vera indoors then it’s an easy task. Keep the pot on a sunny spot, water deeply, but sparingly (let it drain good). Aloe plants are pretty low-maintenance, since they don’t require much water. if it’s possible use rainwater. Temperature range for a happy aloe plant is between 70°F/21°C – 80°F/26°C but will survive down to 40ºF/5°C.

There are so many devices out there to measure air quality nowadays and the informations are sometimes confusing about what each device is armed with or not. As a result here is a complete guide to choose the right device for you and your needs.

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• Prices may vary during time.
• Some Companies don’t specify on their data sheet if their devices are capable to measure PM2.5 or PM10 and they just mention the word dust.
• Some other companies say: Our product goes beyond CO₂ by analyzing substances that directly affect your well-being by measuring VOCs. They aren’t clear if their devices have CO₂ sensor.
• The classification of the design between Bad, Good and Very Good is based on the materials (plastic, wood, glass and metal) that they have used and the aesthetic on my personal opinion.

Sansevieria trifasciata aka Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law Tongue is one of the best house plants that can clean indoor air but also have a secret ability that most people don’t know which is to produce Oxygen O2 during night time and this is the reason some people also call it Bedroom Plant.

I have three pots of Snake Plant in my home, bedroom, kitchen and my home library.

Snake Plant is capable of removing a big variety of VOCs such as Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, Xylene and Toluene (lacks ammonia). It is also effective at removing nitrogen oxide.

It is a good plant for the lazy owners. It can be exposed in full sun light but also does well in dim light. It does not need to be watered very often since it is part of the succulent family (It can rot from over-watering). Ideal temperatures are between 5 – 30 °C (40 – 80 °F). Remember to rotate it every month for uniform light exposure.

Keep it away from pets and babies as it is rated as toxic if ingested.

 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that evaporate at ordinary room temperature. For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint, has a boiling point of only –19 °C (–2 °F).

VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. Most scents or odours are of VOCs.

Basically VOCs are Carbon compounds like:

• Acetone CH3(CO)CH3
  
• Benzene C6H6
• Ethylene glycol C2H6O2
• Formaldehyde CH2O
• Methylene chloride CH2Cl2
• Perchloroethylene C2Cl4
• Toluene C₇H₈
• Xylene C8H10
• 1,3-butadiene C4H6

Many products we have in our homes release or “off-gas” VOCs. Some examples of sources of VOCs are:

• Carpets and adhesives
• Composite wood products
• Paints
• Sealing caulks
• Solvents
• Upholstery fabrics
• Varnishes
• Vinyl Floors

• Air fresheners
• Air cleaners that produce ozone
• Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals
• Cosmetics
• Fuel oil, gasoline
• Moth balls
• Vehicle exhaust running a car in an attached garage

• Cooking
• Dry cleaning
• Hobbies
• Newspapers
• Non-electric space heaters
• Photocopiers
• Smoking
• Stored paints and chemicals
• Wood burning stoves

Studies have shown that the level of VOCs indoors is generally two to five times higher than the level of VOC’s outdoors.

Try to keep your houses out of chemicals, open the windows because your houses need fresh air too. In winter have a timetable that will allow your houses to breathe twice while your heating is off during that time of course. I also use specific plants to help my house be healthier. In the next post I will post some studies and recommendations about which plants are the best for specific VOCs.

As always stay tuned.

A brief overview about PM10 and PM2.5.
Particle pollution, also called particulate matter or PM, are solids material (sometimes liquid too) that float in the air. Some particles are released directly from a specific source, while others form in complicated chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

• Coarse dust particles (PM₁₀) are 2.5 to 10 micrometers in diameter. Sources include crushing or grinding operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads, more specific:
  • mold, spores, pollen, smoke, dirt and dust from factories and farming.
• Fine particles (PM_2.5) are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, and can only be seen with an electron microscope. Fine particles are produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes:
  • toxic organic compounds and heavy metals

By measuring now these particles we can understand the origin of the pollutions and take specific actions.

How can PM affect health?

Particles in the PM_2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM_2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits and deaths. Studies also suggest that long term exposure to fine particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM_2.5.