Phytoremediation of Volatile Organic Compounds and Formaldehyde in Naturally Ventilated University Students’ Hostels in Northeastern Nigeria: A Pilot Study

The need to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in students’ housing facilities remains a growing concern in Nigerian universities. The use of emission-prone building materials and consumer products by hostel occupants is commonly associated with the accumulation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (CH₂O) in students’ hostels. Long-term exposure to these pollutants may negatively affect students’ overall well-being. This study investigated the combined effects of selected indoor plants as a passive phytoremediation strategy for reducing total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and formaldehyde in naturally ventilated university hostels in Northeastern Nigeria. A quantitative experimental design was adopted involving six female hostel rooms. Indoor environmental parameters were measured using a TUYA WIFI air quality monitor before and after the introduction of five indoor plant species, including Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plant), Ficus elastica (Rubber plant), Chamaedorea seifrizii (Bamboo palm), Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake plant), and Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston fern). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed baseline mean TVOC and CH₂O concentrations to be from 195–210 μg/m³ and 8–15 μg/m³, respectively. Following plant introduction, mean TVOC and CH₂O concentrations reduced to 164–176 μg/m³ and 8–15 μg/m³, corresponding to reduction rates of 15.8–16.2% and 1.0–2.2%, respectively. ANOVA results showed no statistically significant differences in TVOC and formaldehyde concentrations among the rooms (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that indoor plants can moderately improve IAQ by reducing TVOCs but are less effective for formaldehyde removal under low- concentration conditions. Indoor plants are therefore recommended as a complementary, low-cost IAQ intervention alongside improved ventilation in university hostels. Classifying Floor Level Based on Human Comfort and Environmental Parameters Using Machine Learning Approaches for a Sustainable Indoor Analytics G. M. Rahad1, Jobayer Hossain1, Md. Hasan1, Md. Iktekar Alam Imran1, Md. Fardin Al Shafik1*, Md.