The question sounds simple. The answer , once you examine the actual measurement science behind it, is more interesting than either "yes" or "no". The houseplant -as-air-purifier idea can be traced to a 1989 US study , conducted for NASA as part of research into closed-loop life support systems for space stations. In sealed, controlled chambers, certain plant species reduced concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room