Sustainable indoor air quality via plant-based biofiltration evaluating benzene and toluene removal efficiency and health risk reduction in pharmaceutical laboratories

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Abstract Chemical risks represent a significant concern in laboratory environments, especially in organic laboratories where hazardous substances such as benzene and toluene are commonly used. This study evaluates the potential health risks associated with exposure to these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among laboratory staff and students and examines the effectiveness of plant-based biofilters (PBBFs) in improving indoor air quality (IAQ). Measurements of total VOCs, CO, CO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 were conducted in an operational pharmaceutical laboratory using a Henan Oceanus OC-1000 multi-gas detector under both control conditions and after the introduction of indoor plants. Four ornamental species Cordyline fruticosa , Syngonium podophyllum , Epipremnum aureum , and Chlorophytum comosum were selected based on their phytoremediation potential and evaluated for their impact on IAQ. The four tested species demonstrated substantial pollutant removal, with Cordyline fruticosa achieving the highest VOC (87.5%) and CO (88.2%) reductions, Syngonium podophyllum achieving up to 100% reduction under controlled experimental laboratory conditions of PM 2.5 and PM 10 , and all species showing measurable reductions in CO 2 (20?37%). Health risk assessment confirmed that at benzene (0.3 mg/m 3 ) and toluene (4 mg/m 3 ) exposure levels, both cancer and non-cancer risks for staff and students remained within the U.S. EPA?s acceptable threshold (??1.0?×?10 ?6 for cancer risk; hazard quotient?<?1 for non-cancer risk), indicating that plant-based biofilters effectively mitigate laboratory air pollution while maintaining safe exposure conditions.

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