When most people think about improving their health, they focus on eating healthier foods, exercising more, or getting enough sleep. While these lifestyle habits are essential, there is another factor we often overlook—the quality of the air inside our homes.
The average American spends nearly 90% of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air can contain pollutants released from furniture, carpeting, paints, cleaning products, cooking, candles, air fresheners, and building materials. These pollutants may contribute to headaches, eye irritation, allergies, asthma, and long-term respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately, new research suggests that one of the simplest ways to improve indoor air quality may involve something surprisingly inexpensive: a common houseplant.
A recent study published in Atmospheric Environment investigated how an indoor living wall containing golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) removed airborne pollutants. The findings demonstrated that plant-based biofiltration systems can substantially reduce several harmful indoor air contaminants under controlled conditions, highlighting the potential role of plants in creating healthier indoor environments.
Why Should We Care About Indoor Air?
Many people assume outdoor pollution is the primary concern.
In reality, indoor air may contain hundreds of different pollutants, including:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
- Fine particulate matter
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Toluene
These chemicals originate from many everyday household products, including paint, furniture, flooring, cleaning products, printers, gas stoves, fireplaces, tobacco smoke, and scented candles.
Repeated exposure has been associated with:
- Eye irritation
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Asthma
- Allergic symptoms
- Reduced lung function
- Increased cardiovascular risk
Improving indoor air quality is therefore an important part of maintaining overall health.
What Did the New Study Show?
The findings highlighted in this article are based on a scientific study published in Atmospheric Environment (Volume 371, April 15, 2026) entitled “Volatile Organic Compounds, SO₂ and NO₂ Capture by Means of an Indoor Active Living Wall.”1 In this study, researchers investigated whether a plant-based biofiltration system could effectively remove common indoor air pollutants that are frequently released from household products, furniture, paints, carpeting, cleaning supplies, and gas appliances.
A 2026 clinical study showed common household plant containing golden pathos can effectly reduce common indoor pollutants by 90%.
To conduct the experiment, the investigators built an active living wall containing golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), one of the world’s most common and easy-to-grow houseplants. Unlike an ordinary potted plant sitting on a shelf, this specially designed system continuously pulled indoor air through the plants’ leaves, roots, and growing medium using a small ventilation fan. As the polluted air passed through the root zone, naturally occurring microorganisms living around the roots helped absorb and break down harmful airborne chemicals.
The researchers measured several common indoor pollutants before and after the air passed through the living wall. They found that the system removed approximately 90% of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while also significantly reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) under controlled laboratory conditions. These findings suggest that plant-based biofiltration systems may become an effective and environmentally friendly strategy for improving indoor air quality in homes, offices, schools, and healthcare facilities.
Although most homeowners will not install an active living wall, the study has generated renewed interest in golden pothos as an indoor plant because of its hardiness and potential air-cleaning properties. Golden pothos is widely available at grocery stores, home improvement centers, garden centers, and online retailers. It is commonly sold as a small tabletop plant, a hanging basket with trailing vines, or a larger decorative floor plant that can climb a moss pole or trellis. While a single potted golden pothos is unlikely to remove pollutants as efficiently as the engineered living wall used in this study, incorporating several healthy indoor plants into your home may still contribute to a more pleasant indoor environment while complementing other proven strategies such as good ventilation and high-efficiency air filtration.
What Makes Golden Pothos Special?
Golden pothos is one of the world’s most popular houseplants. The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the world’s most popular and recognizable houseplants, prized for its attractive heart-shaped green leaves splashed with yellow or cream-colored variegation. Native to the tropical forests of the South Pacific, it has become a favorite indoor plant because it is remarkably easy to grow and requires very little maintenance. Over the years, this versatile plant has acquired many common names, including golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, and taro vine. It is also widely known as devil’s ivy or devil’s vine, a nickname earned because of its exceptional hardiness. The plant can survive in low-light conditions and often remains vibrant and green even when neglected, making it an ideal choice for beginners or busy homeowners.
In many garden centers and grocery stores, the plant is simply labeled “Pothos,” although it is occasionally mistaken for or mislabeled as a Philodendron or Scindapsus, two closely related plants with similar appearances. In many parts of the Indian subcontinent, it is affectionately known as the money plant, reflecting the traditional belief that it symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and positive energy. Whether grown in a tabletop pot, hanging basket, or climbing trellis, the golden pothos is valued for both its beauty and its resilience, making it one of the easiest houseplants to enjoy in any home.
Its popularity stems from several advantages:
- Easy to grow
- Requires little maintenance
- Thrives in low light
- Tolerates irregular watering
- Inexpensive
- Grows rapidly
- Attractive trailing vines
From a scientific perspective, its extensive root system provides an ideal environment for beneficial microorganisms that help remove airborne pollutants when air passes through the root zone.
Researchers believe that much of the pollutant removal occurs because microbes surrounding the roots metabolize many harmful chemicals into less harmful compounds.
Can One Houseplant Clean an Entire House?
Probably not. However, this is an important distinction.
The recent study evaluated an active living wall equipped with fans that continuously moved air through the plant system.
A single potted plant sitting quietly on a shelf does not circulate enough air to achieve the same degree of pollutant removal.
However, this does not mean ordinary houseplants are without benefit.
Multiple indoor plants may modestly improve local air quality, increase humidity, create a more pleasant living environment, and contribute to psychological well-being. They should be viewed as one component of a comprehensive strategy for healthier indoor air rather than a replacement for proper ventilation or air filtration.
Houseplants May Benefit Mental Health Too
Interestingly, the benefits of indoor plants extend beyond cleaner air.
Numerous studies have shown that exposure to indoor greenery may:
- Reduce stress
- Improve mood
- Increase productivity
- Enhance concentration
- Lower perceived anxiety
- Promote relaxation
Simply caring for plants may encourage mindfulness and provide a calming daily routine.
Other Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Although houseplants may help, they work best when combined with other healthy habits.
Consider these practical steps:
1. Improve Ventilation
Open windows whenever outdoor air quality permits and use exhaust fans while cooking or showering.
2. Replace HVAC Filters
Change heating and air-conditioning filters regularly according to manufacturer recommendations.
3. Consider a HEPA Air Purifier
High-quality air purifiers remain one of the most effective ways to remove airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and smoke.
4. Choose Low-VOC Products
When purchasing paints, flooring, furniture, or cleaning supplies, look for products labeled as low in volatile organic compounds.
5. Avoid Indoor Smoking
Tobacco smoke remains one of the most harmful sources of indoor air pollution.
6. Maintain Healthy Humidity
Keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50% helps reduce mold growth while improving comfort.
7. Add Easy-to-Care-for Houseplants
Golden pothos, spider plants, snake plants, and peace lilies are all popular choices that are easy for beginners to maintain.
A Healthy Home Supports a Healthy Body
As a vascular surgeon, I often remind patients that good health depends on more than medications and medical procedures.
The environments in which we live—including the air we breathe every day—also influence our long-term health. Although indoor plants are not a cure-all, they represent a simple, affordable, and enjoyable way to make our homes healthier while adding natural beauty to our living spaces.
Combined with regular exercise, healthy nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, and smoke-free living, improving indoor air quality is another step toward protecting our lungs, heart, and overall well-being.
The Bottom Line
The recent study published in Atmospheric Environment provides encouraging evidence that plant-based biofiltration systems using golden pothos can effectively remove volatile organic compounds and other gaseous pollutants from indoor air under controlled conditions. While a single houseplant is unlikely to clean the air throughout an entire home, incorporating easy-to-care-for indoor plants into your living environment may still contribute to better indoor air quality and improved psychological well-being.
When combined with proper ventilation, high-quality air filtration, and healthy lifestyle habits, houseplants can become one more simple tool to help create a healthier home. Sometimes, one of the easiest ways to improve your health begins not in the medicine cabinet—but with a plant sitting on your windowsill.
- Irga PJ, et al. Volatile Organic Compounds, SO₂ and NO₂ Capture by Means of an Indoor Active Living Wall. Atmospheric Environment. 2026;371:121856. ↩︎