B. C. Wolverton

In research designed to create a breathable environment for a NASA lunar habitat noted scientist Dr. B. C. Wolverton discovered that houseplants are the best filters of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene. Hundreds of these poisonous chemicals can be released by furniture, carpets, and building material, and then trapped by closed ventilation systems, leading to the host of respiratory and allergic reactions now called Sick Building Syndrome. In this full-color, easy-to-follow guide, Dr. Wolverton shows you how to grow and nurture 50 plants as accessible and trouble-free as the tulip and the Boston fern, and includes many beautiful but commonly found varieties not generally thought of as indoor plants. He also rates each plant for its effectiveness in removing various pollutants, and its ease of growth and maintenance. (blurb)… (altro)

"Most experts now agree that indoor air pollution is a major problem", says the author. This occurred in its most noticeable form in the small, highly technical interior of spacecraft where no ventilation was possible. The chosen 50 plants are each given a numerical rating based on four factors; how good they are at removing chemical vapour (eg formaldehyde, a common pollutant); how easy they are to grow and maintain; how resistant they are to insect infestation, and their transpiration rate. But this isn't just a dry scientific tome. Dr Wolverton accompanies the plant descriptions with beautiful full-page photographs and discusses the aesthetic attractions of the plants included.… (altro)