The Schefflera plant, specifically the species Schefflera actinophylla (commonly known as the Umbrella Tree), was indeed one of the plant species tested in the landmark NASA Clean Air Study, which was published in 1989. The primary objective of this research was to find effective ways to purify the air in sealed environments, such as space stations. From a botanical perspective, the Schefflera was selected as a representative example of a common, robust houseplant with significant leaf surface area, making it a suitable candidate for studying the interaction between plants and airborne chemicals.
For a plant like the Schefflera, air purification is not an intentional act but a beneficial byproduct of its natural physiological processes. The plant's ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air occurs primarily through three mechanisms. First, the plant absorbs these gaseous chemicals through its stomata—the tiny pores on the underside of its leaves used for gas exchange. Once inside the leaf, the compounds can be broken down and metabolized by the plant's own biological processes. Second, microorganisms living in the rhizosphere (the area around the roots) play a crucial role. The plant's root system exudes sugars and other organic matter that support a thriving community of beneficial bacteria and fungi. These microbes are the true powerhouses of detoxification, consuming and breaking down the VOCs that have been transported to the root zone.
According to the NASA study findings, the Schefflera plant demonstrated a measurable capacity to remove certain specific toxins from a sealed chamber. The key pollutants it was effective against include benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene. These compounds are commonly found in indoor environments, off-gassing from products like furniture, paints, cleaning supplies, and building materials. The plant's large, glossy leaves provide an extensive surface area for the absorption of these gases, making it relatively efficient at this passive filtration process compared to plants with smaller or fewer leaves.
It is crucial to understand the context of the NASA study from the plant's point of view. The research was conducted in a small, sealed, controlled laboratory chamber. For a Schefflera in a typical home or office, the air purification effect is present but significantly more diluted. The vast volume of air in a room and the constant influx of new pollutants and air from outside mean that a single plant has a limited impact on overall air quality. From a botanical standpoint, the plant is merely responding to the chemical environment immediately surrounding it, processing what it can through its leaves and root microbiome, but it is not designed to "clean" an entire room with the efficiency of a mechanical HEPA filter.
