PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF INDOOR CHLOROPHYTUM COMOSUM (SPIDER PLANTS) FOR IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN COLLEGE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTS

Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts the health, comfort, and cognitive function of building occupants. College campuses, with their high occupancy density and diverse range of activities and materials, often face unique IAQ challenges. Traditional air purification methods can be energy-intensive and may not address all pollutant types effectively. This study investigates the efficacy of using indoor spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) as a natural, sustainable method to mitigate specific toxic gas concentrations within college campus indoor environments. Focusing on common indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), this research hypothesizes that the introduction of Chlorophytum comosum can lead to a measurable reduction in their ambient levels. A controlled experiment was conducted in selected rooms on a college campus, measuring pollutant concentrations before and after the introduction of spider plants. Results indicate that spider plants contributed to a reduction in the levels of target pollutants in experimental areas compared to control areas. The findings suggest that incorporating phytoremediation through common indoor plants like Chlorophytum comosum could complement existing ventilation and filtration systems, offering a potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to improve indoor air quality in educational settings.