This article is from the Win-Spr 2018 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

By Karen Robbins

Re: Cut The Stink, WSSF 2017
Last issue we covered additives to the pet’s food/water, air purifiers, cleaners, and beddings. Other things to help cut the stink are plants and paint.

Plants

It has long been known that plants are good to have in your house for indoor air pollution. They not only absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but did you know some plants can absorb formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and toulene, and ammonia^{1, 2}?

Plants that absorb ammonia are the Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’) (it also absorbs formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and toulene), Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum), and Florist’s chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) (also absorbs formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and toulene). In one study, lady palm (Rhapis excelsa) was one of the most effective in removing ammonia. Other plants that will remove ammonia are: Homalomena sp., Creeping Lilyturf/Creeping Liriope/Lilyturf/Monkey Grass(Liriope spicata), Prayer Plant (Calathea vittata), Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), Weeping Fig/Benjamin Fig/Ficus Tree (Ficus benjamina), Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron indicum), and two tulips.

Practically all the plants tested will remove formaldehyde which is common in many building products and used to make many car parts and some textiles to make them crease-resistant. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’), Chrysanthemum or Pot/Florist’s Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), and Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) were found to be the most effective in removing formaldehyde.

Other plants to consider are the Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens), Mother-in-law’s Tongue/Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), and Money Plant/Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)³.

A plant’s ability to remove these harmful products makes them good to have where you have your animal cages and/or in your home. Just remember to keep them out of the reach of animals as a lot of plants are toxic if ingested. Make sure you keep the leaves clean so they can do their job. Plants will not only help with the air quality, but add some green to your environment.

1 BC Wolverton; WL Douglas; K Bounds (July 1, 1989). A study of interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement (Report). NASA. NASA-TM-108061.

2 Wolverton, B. C. and J. D. Wolverton. (1993). Plants and soil microorganisms: removal of formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from the indoor environment. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 38(2), 11-15.

3 How to grow fresh air. Kamal Meattle. TED Talk Feb. 2009; Fresh Air: The Natural, Three-Plant Air Purifying System. Claire.

NASA Clean Air Study Wikipedia.

10 Common House Plants That Help Clean Indoor Air. Katie Dillon. June 8, 2013.

9 Clean-Air Plants for Your Home. Danielle Blundell.

Types of House plants To Clean Indoor Air. Tara Wagner.

Paint

Most people have heard of stain blocking or waterproofing paint but paint is not something one would think of to help with odors in their animal room or house. There are paints on the market that claim they will absorb not only odors but also bacteria¹, will reduce (but not eliminate) formaldehyde odors, pet, cooking, and cigarette odors, and some are mildew-resistant². However, while the one EPA-registered microbicidal paint kills certain bacteria, it has n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, or quat, as the active ingredient to kill the bacteria³. Quat was found to be one of two chemicals found in the disinfectant Virex [Johnson Diversey] that caused birth defects and infertility in mice⁴.

There are many paints now that have low to zero emissions which makes them asthma and allergy friendly and are healthier for people or animals to be in a freshly painted room.

1 Super-Powered Paints Take on Bacteria, Odors, and Mildew. Sharon O’Malley. May 16, 2016.

2 Breakthrough Innovations in Sherwin-Williams Enhanced Harmony® Paint Help Improve Indoor Air Quality and Reduce Odors. February 4, 2014.

3 New Paint Kills Bacteria, but it Could be Hazardous to Human Health. Julie Fidler. November 1, 2015.

4 Lab disinfectant harms mouse fertility. Brendan Maher. Nature 453, 964 (2008).

There are multiple ways to help control odor with animals. When using new products, make sure you do your research to find something safe that will work to your liking.

Another link for plants: 26 Plants That Clean The Air by David Wright, August 21, 2019