Question
I am getting ready to move into a new house, and was planning on getting an air purifier because I have an eight month old little girl.  What are some indoor plants that I could get that are a. safe for kids and pets  b. clean the air well  c. are relatively easy to keep alive.  Thanks so much for your time.  - Julia

Answer
Julia,

The first list of air filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of the NASA Clean Air Study [1], which researched ways to clean air in space stations. As well as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as all plants do, these plants also eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene. The second and third list are from Dr. B.C. Wolverton's book and focus on removal of specific chemicals.

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Pot Mum or Florist's Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig')
Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii')
Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans 'Massangeana')
Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Gerbera Daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
English Ivy (Hedera helix) Poisonous
Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum) Poisonous
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum) Poisonous
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn. Philodendron cordatum)
Snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')
Golden pothos or Devil's ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')

Top performers for removing formaldehyde.[2]

Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
Florist's mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis "Janet Craig")
Weeping fig ('Ficus benjamina)[3]
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata "Bostoniensis")
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)

Top performers for removing xylene and toluene. [4]

Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Dendrobium orchid (Dendrobium sp.)
Dumb cane (Camilla) (Dieffenbachia) Poisonous
Dumb cane (Exotica)(Dieffenbachia) Poisonous
Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis "Warneckei")
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Moth orchid (Phalenopsis sp.)
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
The recommendation of NASA is to use 15 to 18 good-sized houseplants in six- to eight-inch (203 mm) diameter containers in a 1,800-square-foot (170 m2) house.[citation needed]


Foliage
Most of the plants on the list evolved in tropical or subtropical environments. Due to their ability to flourish on reduced sunlight, their leaf composition allows them to photosynthesize well in household light.


Soil
The amount of exposed surface soil is also important, as microorganisms in the soil consume trace amounts of airborne toxins as well.


House plants can be very beneficial in our homes and lives. Plants can not only purify and renew our stale indoor air, by exchanging the carbon dioxide we exhale with life sustaining oxygen, but they can also trap many of the pollutants present in our indoor spaces.
However, many of our most popular house plants come from tropical climates where the highest percentage of poisonous plants reside. If you have any of the house plants listed below you should find out how dangerous they are, and if the risk they pose to your children or pets is worth keeping them.

Aloe barbadensis Aloe Vera, Burn plant
Amaryllis sp. Amaryllis
Anthurium andraeanum Flamingo lily
Caladium hortulanum Angels' wings
Chrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemums, Mums
Clivia miniata Kaffir Lily
Codiaeum variegatum Croton
Cyclamen persicum Cyclamen
Datura innoxia Angel's Trumpet
Dieffenbachia sp. Dumb cane
Euphorbia milii Crown-of-thorns
Euphorbia pulcherrima Poinsettia (yes, it belongs here)
Hedera helix English Ivy
Hydrangea macrophylla Hydrangea
Kalanchoe daigremontiana Devil's Backbone
Monstera deliciosa Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant
Philodendron sp. Heart leaf philodendron, Philodendron
Rhododendron sp. Azalea
Solanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem Cherry

If you have more questions after reading these lists feel free to write again. The biggest problem with growing houseplants and keeping them alive is being careful not to overwateer them. Allow them to dry out between waterings. Good luck.

Darlene