RUNNING HEAD: Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 1

Air-Purifying Face Mask: An Innovation made from Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
VanZile (2019). Guide to Growing Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis) Indoors. The Spruce.
https://www.thespruce.com/grow-nephrolepis-boston-ferns-1902723
The article explains the guide to growing boston ferns. Boston ferns are typically
attractive, with long, graceful fronds bedecked with tiny leaves. It is a relatively
tough fern, with a higher tolerance for light than other species, and as far as ferns
go, they are more tolerant of dry conditions and easy to propagate. For ideal
growing conditions and tips, to assure that your Boston fern grows to its potential,
you need to create the right growing conditions, including the proper light,
amount of water, temperature, soil composition, and fertilizer. Make sure to
maintain a balance of elements for best results—as is true of much of the rest of
life, growing ferns is all about moderation and a sober approach that doesn't
overemphasize any one element. This will help us to know the purpose of
growing Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) indoor and its ideal conditions,
propagations and repotting.

Lee & Shin (2010). Functional Activities of Ferns for Human Health. Springer Link.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4419-7162-3_24
Fern and fern allies are sources of amazing natural healthy products. Nowadays,
functional activities of ferns and fern allies for human health are being studied
using several advanced scientific technologies. They discover some ferns like
bracken were known as toxic plants. But, some toxins like thiaminase
decomposed during the cooking process. The others are not poisonous in human
doses. But several ferns showed strong air purification activities on removal of
volatile formaldehyde. Consequently, ferns and fern allies are beneficial for a
healthy life style and they would be useful economical and natural materials
used in manufacturing various functional life goods and natural air purifiers.
The articles aims to prove that the chemical composition of ferns have high
source of amazing natural healthy products. Some ferns could purify the air by
keeping the ferns indoor or outdoor. This will help us to determine the validity
of chemical composition of Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) in order for us to
create our innovation.

Norris (2018). How Does the Boston Fern Improve Air Quality? SFGate Home Guides.
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/boston-fern-improve-air-quality-98663.html

This article focuses on how the Boston fern improve the quality of air. The
author says that Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) has graced indoor landscapes
since Victorian times. Within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness
zones 8b though 11, it can be grown outdoors but is most often used as an
indoor plant. Boston ferns, along with other houseplants, have been credited
with improving air quality in homes and offices. The use of plants as
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 2

decontaminants is called phytoremediation. Plants create their own biosystems

around their roots, and they include such components as bacteria, fungi and
other microbes. Pollutants come into the root’s biosystem from water, air and
gases, often translocated through the leaves. Like nutrients, pollutants from the
air and other sources are also broken down in the root’s biosystem and made
into a form that plants can use. This will help our study to prove that Boston
fern can improve the quality of air.

Zhou et al. (2011). Purification of Formaldehyde-Polluted Air by Indoor Plants of Araceae

Agavaceae and Liliaceae. Research Gate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231184098_Purification_of_formaldehyde-
polluted_air_by_indoor_plants_of_Araceae_Agavaceae_and_Liliaceae

Thirty plant species from Araceae, Agavaceae and Liliaceae families were tested
for their abilities of removing formaldehyde in the air. Philodendron selloum
showed the worst resistance to formaldehyde pollution damage. Increasing uses
of resins and solvents such as formaldehyde (FDH) in construction and
decoration materials have caused severe pollution of indoor air. FDH is a kind of
colourless chemical with a strong pungent odour, especially steadily releasable for
three to fifteen years. FDH together with other chemicals such as benzene causes
serious hazards to human health.

Mukerjee & Nasim (2015). Pollution in your city: Is wearing a mask the solution? Down to
Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/pollution-in-your-city-is-wearing-a-
mask-the-solution--51717
The primary function of masks is to filter out certain particles from the air. For
effective protection, it is important to wear a well-fitting mask of the correct size,
which covers the nose, mouth and chin. But masks don’t block everything toxic in
the air. They may protect the wearer against particulate matter but are ineffective
against nitrates, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and other gaseous
pollutants. Different pollutants cause different reactions in the human body, and
respiratory diseases are only one of the many ailments. Masks were originally
intended to safeguard industrial and health workers against occupational hazards,
and can by no means be recommended as a medium- or long-term solution to air
pollution. The bigger and more serious problem is the uncontrolled or unregulated
rise in vehicular emissions, smoke from open burning and generator sets,
firecrackers and industries. Unless we find solutions to these core problems, even
face masks will fail to protect us some years from now.

MacIntyre et al. (2009). Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in
Households. PubMed Central. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19193267
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 3

This study tells about how face mask reduce seasonal respiratory diseases. So
they did an investigation to a certain city in Los Angeles and they monitored it all
through their time space. And they found out that only 21% of household contacts
in the face mask arms reported wearing the mask often or always during the
follow-up period. The Author concluded that household use of face masks is
associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal
respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks
might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced. This
will help us to conclude that our product is sufficient enough to control some
communicable diseases.

Kurt et al. (2016). Pulmonary Health Effects of Air Pollution. PubMed Central.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26761628
This article emphasizes the problem which is the air pollution that continues to be
a major public health concern. Air pollution once thought of as purely a local or
regional problem, now is recognised as a global issue with potential long distance
atmospheric transport. It is an important contributor to respiratory complications,
especially for developing countries who use biomass fuels and coal for heating
and cooking in the home. The aim of this review is to examine the current
literature for the most recent updates on health effects of specific air pollutants
and their impact on asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung
cancer and respiratory infection. And according their recent studies, they found
out that exposure to air pollution is the ninth leading risk factor for
cardiopulmonary mortality. This will help us in terms of validity of our problem,
because it is seems to be a widely phenomenon health concern.

Aro (2019). Impact of Air Pollution in Human Health, Environment. Philippine Information
Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1008049
This article focuses on the impact of air pollution in human health and
environment. An expert on air quality and pollution, Environment and
Management Bureau Consultant Engr. Reynaldo Tejada shares his knowledge on
the impact of air quality and pollution in human health, the ecosystem and the
environment. Its effect in the human body leads to various health-related diseases
such as respiratory disease, decreased lung functions, cancers, eye and throat
irritation, he adds. Sources of air pollution are anthropogenic and natural sources.
Anthropogenic or man-made sources such as those which are stationary like
chimneys, mobile sources like vehicle emissions and area sources emanating from
forest fires, kaingin or burn and slash, and cigarette smoke. Examples of natural
sources are those emitted by volcanoes. He also made a study that compares lungs
of two persons who died in Manila and from the province. The one from Manila
has color black lungs while from the province color red which is an indication of
heavy pollution in Manila compared to the province. This study will help us know
what will be the effects of air pollution to human health and environment which
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 4

our main purpose, it also motivates us to driven what more knowledge we have to
look for.

Ambag (2018). How Bad Is Air Pollution In The Philippines? Flip Science.
https://www.philstar.com/business/motoring/2018/11/28/1872203/are-filipinos-
experiencing-wildfire-pollution-every-day
This article focuses how bad the air pollution in the Philippines is. Based on 2016
statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), 91% of the world’s
population reside in locations that don’t meet WHO’s imposed air quality
standards. According to WHO’s estimates, approximately 4.2 million deaths
worldwide in 2016 were caused by outdoor air pollution. They’ve notice that n
the southeast Asian region — where the Philippines is located — the average
PM2.5 concentration is 21 μg/m3annually, over twice the recommended value.
Based from the 2018 EPI, Philippines rank as 82nd out of 180 countries,
indicating that our country has a higher health rating. However, while our country
ranked 43rd in the Air Pollution category, we were still ranked 111th in terms of
Air Quality due to the use of solid fuels in households. They conclude that the air
pollution in the Philippines is now getting higher as years goes by even if it’s not
that too much, the Filipinos should always consider the environment. And this
study will help us to rely our information gathered if it’s fit to the statistics of
World Health Organization.

Ambag (2018). How Bad Is Air Pollution In The Philippines? Flip Science.
https://www.philstar.com/business/motoring/2018/11/28/1872203/are-filipinos-
experiencing-wildfire-pollution-every-day
This study describes the chemical composition of the air pollutant which comes in
various forms and what will happen if these particles enter on human body. The
largest group is called particulate matter (PM), which includes particles that
comprise sulphates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral
dust, and even water. The sizes of these pollutants can be measured in microns. A
micron is a millionth of a meter: picture a meter-long thread divided into a million
equal parts and that’s how a small micron is. These particles can remain
suspended in air and eventually be inhaled. When this happens, they pass through
the airway and enter the bloodstream, where they can wreak havoc inside the
body. Increased concentration of this compound (Carbon Dioxide) in one’s body
can damage the body’s ability to transport oxygen to its different parts, which is
harmful in all organs in the body. This will help us to consider some factors in our
innovation which are good and bad in the body.
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 5

Harold (2019). Dust Mask and Filter Cartridge Ratings. Envirosafety.

https://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/resources/dust-masks-whats-the-difference.html
This article describes the different types of dust masks and filter cartridge ratings
of it. Respiratory Filters come in a variety of ratings that relate to how the
respirator performs (how much it filters) and what environment type it is designed
to be used in. When choosing a respirator it's important to understand that as the
letter rating and number rating increase, breathing fatigue will increase. There are
3 respiratory rating class name N for not oil resistant, R for resistant to oil and O
for Oil Proof. While there are 3 types of dust masks: N95 Masks, most commonly
used for Flu or Influenza prevention, P95 Masks, most commonly used for
working in environments exposed to oil-based particles. According to the author
Professor William Harold, wearing a mask is a excellent way of preventing the
user from rubbing or touching their mouth or nose, which is a very high risk
factor of bacteria that might transmute in our body. This will help us in choosing
what type of mask we are using in our innovation.

Whitmore (2015). Medicinal Benefits of Ferns. Permaculture.

https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/medicinal-benefits-ferns

This study tells about the different medicinal benefits of ferns. According to the
author Mr Nathaniel Whitmore there are multiple species of ferns and all have
many different medicinal uses. He explores the native Indian medicinal uses of
ferns that feature in the Delaware River valley. He discovered that Ferns can used
to treat temporarily for Rheumatism, lung infections, Gynecology (including
menstrual, postpartum, and breastfeeding), blood and digestion including stomach
ache and parasites. The author also states different types of ferns (e.g Maidenhead
- Adiantum pedatum, Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris) resources and where can it be found. This will help in
looking for our resources needed to completely support our innovation which is
the air purifier face mask.

Swift (2009). How Does the Boston Fern Improve Air Quality? Hunker
https://www.hunker.com/13427549/how-does-the-boston-fern-improve-air-quality

The given study focuses on how Boston Fern improve air quality. The scientist
proves that it is well known that plants take in carbon dioxide and give off
oxygen. Some of the most common indoor air pollutants are formaldehyde,
benzene and trichloroethylene. The Boston fern is one of the best plants for
removing them from the air. In terms of metabolic breakdown, Wolverton
Environmental Services explains that plant leaves can absorb chemicals through a
process called metabolic breakdown. In other words, the plants eat the chemicals
and process them to create energy. Other benefits include higher oxygen levels
indoors, higher humidity, which is especially nice if you live in an arid climate,
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 6

and even lower stress levels. This will help our study to further prove that Boston
fern can actually purify air.

Let’s Fix It (2019). The Disadvantages of Dust Masks. Let’s Fix It.
https://letsfixit.co.uk/78895/the-disadvantages-of-dust-masks/

This study focuses on different advantages of face mask such as difficulty in

breathing; a properly fitting dust mask forces the wearer to draw all of their
air through the mask in order to filter particulates out of it. The mask
material is highly permeable, but does cause some resistance to the air flow,
meaning the wearer has to breathe somewhat harder in order to draw a full
breath at normal speed. Some advantages are poor in fitting, heat and sweat,
limited function and covering the face. The author aims to prove that mask
is an essential piece of workplace safety equipment in such an environment,
and is often the best available choice for the job; the masks are not without
drawbacks. This can help us in considering the factors that can affect the
people that will use the dust mask and its inconvenience.

Jyoti (2018). Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Airpurifying Indoor Plant & Health Benefits.
Foodthesis. https://foodthesis.com/boston-fern-health-benefits-indoor-plant/

This article tells about the descriptions and uses of Boston Ferns and how to grow
it. It is a type of fern grows under part shade and part sun in a moist condition.
Boston fern has long and narrow leaves known as fronds. This plant can grow
well both in indoor and outdoor conditions. The trend of planting Boston fern
today is increasing not only because of its beauty but because of its ability to
purify indoor air and adds to humidity to the environment thus gives a soothing
effect to our house. These are air pollutants removed by Boston fern, it absorbs
formaldehyde, and it removes xylene and absorbs toluene. The article given
describes how Boston ferns can be grow: the Boston fern should be potted in well
aerated, well drained and high water holding capacity medium so that the fern
does not get dry. This could help us if ever that we could not find some resources,
we have now knowledge to plant it.

Vedal (2017). Can facemasks help reduce the negative health impacts of air pollution? The
Conversation. http://theconversation.com/can-facemasks-help-reduce-the-negative-
health-impacts-of-air-pollution-82549

This article focuses on the capability of face mask to help reduce the negative
health impact. Research has shown that exposure to air pollution, be it brief or
over the long term, can have negative impacts on the lungs and hearts, and
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 7

potentially the brain as well. Air pollution is made up of particles and gases.
Gases include ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and a
large group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They
have also studied that simple paper dust masks are largely useless when it comes
to lessening air pollution exposure, because it lacks in advancement of technology
to filtered out air. This will help us to fully understand the strategy we will use in
air purification in our innovation.

Langton (2019). Fern Plants that are Not Poisonous to Children. Livestrong.com.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/210160-non-poisonous-fern-plants-for-children/

The article enumerates fern plants that are not poisonous to children. The author
says that Boston fern is one of the fern plants that are not poisonous to children.
The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), or sword fern, is among the most
common house ferns. This plant grows quickly, producing feathery, bright to light
green arching fronds. At maturity, this fern generally reaches 2 to 3 feet wide.
Naturalized in many areas of the U.S., it also makes a good outdoor fern. Frost
kills the leaves, but they return in spring. This article will help us to prove that
Boston fern is not poisonous and we can use it to make an innovation which is
making an air-purifying face mask made of Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata).

Lai et al. (2011). Effectiveness of Facemasks to Reduce Exposure Hazards for Airborne
Infections Among General Populations. Research Gate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51661232_Effectiveness_of_facemasks_to_red
uce_exposure_hazards_for_airborne_infections_among_general_populations

The article focuses on the effectiveness of facemasks to reduce exposure hazards

for airborne infections among general populations. The authors said that
facemasks are widely used as a protective measure by general public to prevent
inhalation of airborne pathogens including seasonal, swine and other forms of
influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), etc. However, scientific
data on effectiveness of facemasks in reducing infections in the community are
extremely limited and even inconsistent. In this work, two manikins labelled as
'source' and 'susceptible' were used to measure the protection provided by
facemasks under various emission scenarios. The facemask was challenged by
both pseudo-steady and highly transient emissions generated by an expiratory
process where parameters, such as separation distance between manikins,
emission velocity and expiratory duration, were controlled and measured
systematically. Performances of four different types of facemask fits, varying
from ideal to normal wearing practice, were also investigated. This will help us to
know the great impact of using facemasks and its effectiveness to reduce exposure
hazards for airborne infection.
Boston Fern as Air-Purifying Face Mask 8

Heid (2018). You Asked: Can Indoor Plants Really Purify the Air? TIME.
https://time.com/5105027/indoor-plants-air-quality/

The article focuses on proving that indoor plants can really purify air. One famous
NASA experiment, published in 1989, found that indoor plants can scrub the air
of cancer-causing volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene.
(Those NASA researchers were looking for ways to effectively detoxify the air of
space station environments.) Later research has found that soil microorganisms in
potted plants also play a part in cleaning indoor air. Based on this research, some
scientists say house plants are effective natural air purifiers, and the bigger and
leafier the plant, the better. “The amount of leaf surface area influences the rate of
air purification,” says Bill Wolverton, a former NASA research scientist who
conducted that 1989 plant study. This article will help our plan to prove that
indoor plants, specifically Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), can purify air and
we can use this plant for our innovation to make an air-purifying face mask.

Baosheng et al. (2009). Air Purification Capability of Potted Phoenix roebelenii and Its
Installation Effect in Indoor Space. MYU Tokyo.
https://myukk.org/SM2017/sm_pdf/SM783.pdf

This study focuses on the Air Purification Capability of Potted Phoenix

Roebelenii and Its Installation Effect in Indoor Space. Phoenix roebelenii has the
same characteristics with Nephrolepis exaltata. Phoenix roebelenii (commonly
called Roebelenii palm or dwarf date palm) is a well-known potted plant, which is
endemic to Hachijyo Island in Japan. Plants degrade air pollutants and greenhouse
gases discharged by humans.Therefore, plants have been placed in indoor spaces,
such as in living and working environments. It has been clarified that workplace
productivity increases with the presence of potted plants. The air purification
capability of Roebe was evaluated in an enclosed chamber made of acrylic. The
chamber is 575 mm long, 510 mm wide and 1,000 mm high, and has a capacity of
about 300 L. A potted Roebe was placed in the chamber and each test chemical
was injected into the chamber using a microsyringe. The authors aimed to know
the purification capability of the Phoenix roebelenii, which is related to the
characteristics of Boston fern. It will benefit our study because we’re able to
know the purification capabilities of the said plants.