ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Measuring the Impact of Selected Plants
on Indoor CO2 Concentrations
Mehmet Cetin1, Hakan Sevik2
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1Kastamonu University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture,
37150, Kastamonu, Turkey
2Kastamonu University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Environmental Engineering,
37150, Kastamonu, Turkey
Submission date: 2015-09-25
Final revision date: 2015-12-15
Acceptance date: 2016-02-09
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(3):973-979
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ABSTRACT
Nearly 90% of people’s lives are lived indoors, and their health is affected by the concentrations of CO2
in these spaces. Carbon dioxide concentrations can rapidly change based on human activity in indoor living
spaces. Indoor plants and the concentration of CO2 in the local environment are factors that influence
most people. Plants, depending on the ambient light and temperature conditions, and which are necessary
to perform photosynthesis or respiration, directly affect the concentration of CO2 in the local environment.
Furthermore, indoor plants influence the level of CO2 in the local environment but have not been researched
enough in recent years concerning their specific effects. This study attempts to determine the effects of
indoor plants on the concentration of CO2 in an indoor environment under certain light conditions. Five
indoor plants were placed in a glass-walled compartment in order to measure the amount of CO2. The glass
compartment used in the study was positioned in a way to prevent direct sunlight yet provide an illuminated
environment. The plants were placed into this airtight compartment with a glass wall, which had a volume
of approximately 0.5 m3 (0.7 m x 0.7 m x 1 m). The measurements of CO2 within the compartment were
carried out via Extech Desktop Indoor Air Quality CO2 Datalogger, and the CO2 measuring device placed in
the compartment was set to measure CO2 once every five minutes. The study found that all plants reduced
the concentration of CO2 to a certain extent during the day.