1. Historical Roots: The NASA Clean Air Study

Dating back to 1989, NASA researchers testing potted plants in sealed chambers found the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’) could remove substantial amounts of VOCs—1,725 µg/h of benzene, 674 µg/h of formaldehyde, and 1,128 µg/h of trichloroethylene Wikipedia.

When converted into percentage terms:

• ~37% reduction for formaldehyde

• ~38% for benzene

• ~25% for trichloroethylene within 24 hours—ranking among the more effective plants in that test pool indoorplantshub.com.

2. Translating Lab Results to Real Life—The Limits

While these findings sound impressive, they were recorded in small, airtight environments that don’t reflect typical homes or offices. In most buildings, natural ventilation already clears VOCs at a rate far faster than a plant ever could Wikipedia+1.

Meta-studies and reviews suggest you’d need 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter to approximate the air-cleaning power of standard ventilation—clearly impractical for most settings Reddit+1homesidekick.com.

Experts also caution that the myth of plants as effective air purifiers is overstated; consistent ventilation, not decorative greenery, remains the strongest defense against indoor pollutants Financial Times.

3. Modern Data: What Peace Lilies Actually Achieve

Game-changing though they may seem, newer research tells a more modest story. A controlled study comparing plants and substrates found:

• Soil removed formaldehyde at 0.07–0.16 m³/h CADR.

• Peace Lily removed CO₂ at approximately 0.01 m³/h MDPI.

While measurable, these rates are orders of magnitude lower than mechanical air purifiers.

Yet, small-scale improvements have shown promise—e.g., houseplants including Peace Lilies could reduce indoor NO₂ by about 20% in poorly ventilated offices (though effects were smaller in larger spaces) Reddit.

4. Beyond Air Purification: Holistic Well-Being

Peace Lilies still bring valuable benefits in non-quantifiable ways:

• They increase indoor humidity, which can ease dry-air discomfort though beware of over-humidifying, which may encourage mold Wikipedia.

• Psychological and physiological studies indicate houseplants can lead to:

  • Lower diastolic blood pressure

  • Improved academic performance

  • Reduced stress and enhanced mood/productivity Wikipedia.

5. Final Verdict: Balanced, Science-Backed Insight