Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations]
Background Formaldehyde a commonly used embalming fluid for the preservation of cadavers, produces numerous short and long-term side effects on the students and staff working with it. Indoor plants have been shown to reduce atmospheric formaldehyde levels. The purpose of the study was to compare the...
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F1000 Research Ltd
2025-07-01
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| author | Dhiren Punja Adish G Joshi Rohini Punja |
| author_facet | Dhiren Punja Adish G Joshi Rohini Punja |
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| description | Background Formaldehyde a commonly used embalming fluid for the preservation of cadavers, produces numerous short and long-term side effects on the students and staff working with it. Indoor plants have been shown to reduce atmospheric formaldehyde levels. The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of indoor plants in reducing formaldehyde levels in ambient air to levels deemed safe by WHO standards Methods The study was conducted in the storage room of the Anatomical dissection hall. 7 potted plants of one variety were kept in the storage room for 14 days and the Formaldehyde reading was measured using a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) monitor. Then the same was done with no plant. This cycle was repeated 2 more times, with two different plant species. The three spieces of plants used for this study were as follows: Dracaena trifasciata, Epipremnum aureum, Spathiphyllum. Results The results were analysed and compared and it was determined that the effect of having a plant present versus having no plant present on the Formaldehyde concentration in the air was inconclusive as Dracaena trifasciata failed to reject the null hypothesis altogether (p-value>0.05), while Epipremnum aureum and Spathiphyllum rejected the null hypothesis (p-value<0.05), however they both had a weak positive correlation with formaldehyde concentration. Conclusion The efficacy of indoor plants in reducing formaldehyde levels in ambient air needs to be further explored and validated since all the prior studies conducted were in controlled environment and should be done in a real time scenario for its practical and beneficial uses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91505c3ec98d4d3c8061ee34a9e81ce7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-91505c3ec98d4d3c8061ee34a9e81ce72025-08-20T02:50:17ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022025-07-011310.12688/f1000research.152489.3185228Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations]Dhiren Punja0Adish G Joshi1Rohini Punja2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0732-5468Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaKasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaKasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaBackground Formaldehyde a commonly used embalming fluid for the preservation of cadavers, produces numerous short and long-term side effects on the students and staff working with it. Indoor plants have been shown to reduce atmospheric formaldehyde levels. The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of indoor plants in reducing formaldehyde levels in ambient air to levels deemed safe by WHO standards Methods The study was conducted in the storage room of the Anatomical dissection hall. 7 potted plants of one variety were kept in the storage room for 14 days and the Formaldehyde reading was measured using a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) monitor. Then the same was done with no plant. This cycle was repeated 2 more times, with two different plant species. The three spieces of plants used for this study were as follows: Dracaena trifasciata, Epipremnum aureum, Spathiphyllum. Results The results were analysed and compared and it was determined that the effect of having a plant present versus having no plant present on the Formaldehyde concentration in the air was inconclusive as Dracaena trifasciata failed to reject the null hypothesis altogether (p-value>0.05), while Epipremnum aureum and Spathiphyllum rejected the null hypothesis (p-value<0.05), however they both had a weak positive correlation with formaldehyde concentration. Conclusion The efficacy of indoor plants in reducing formaldehyde levels in ambient air needs to be further explored and validated since all the prior studies conducted were in controlled environment and should be done in a real time scenario for its practical and beneficial uses.https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1249/v3Air quality; anatomical dissection hall indoor plants indoor air volatile organic compound workspace environment cadavereng |
| spellingShingle | Dhiren Punja Adish G Joshi Rohini Punja Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] F1000Research Air quality; anatomical dissection hall indoor plants indoor air volatile organic compound workspace environment cadaver eng |
| title | Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall? A study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | can indoor plants reduce formaldehyde levels in the anatomy dissection hall a study to evaluate the practicality of using plants in reducing formaldehyde levels version 3 peer review 1 approved 3 approved with reservations |
| topic | Air quality; anatomical dissection hall indoor plants indoor air volatile organic compound workspace environment cadaver eng |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1249/v3 |
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