Plants aren't always good for you!

I spotted this article in the New Scientist.

I've often come across the view that using plants is a good way of dealing with pollutants in the indoor environment (see my previous post here). Although there is some merit in this, it isn't always true that plants are beneficial and the research findings described in the New Scientist article shows how plants can actually increase pollution.

All living organisms process, produce and emit chemicals. Sometimes these are beneficial and sometimes they are harmful. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean that it is harmless. Botulinum toxin is a "natural" chemical - and its extremely toxic.