Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Air Pollution and Health 2476-3071 11 2 2026 06 29 271 306 EN Reza Hedayati Marzouni Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran Yaser Goldoust Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran 2026 02 02 2026 06 14 Declining Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in confined spaces and with insufficient ventilation poses serious health risks in industrial and office environments. The presence of volatile organic compounds in indoor air can cause human diseases, highlighting the need for effective and sustainable air quality improvement strategies. Phytoremediation offers an efficient, eco-friendly approach for removing contaminants from air, soil, and water, with plant species differing in their absorption capacities. This systematic review, conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, identifies plant species effective in the phytoremediation of airborne benzene and toluene and examines factors influencing their performance. Comprehensive searches of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest, MagIran, and Irandoc databases retrieved relevant studies through a three-stage screening process (title, abstract, and full-text review). Findings highlight Hedera helix and Epipremnum aureum as the most frequently used and efficient species for benzene and toluene removal. Moreover, enhancing factors such as increasing plant exposure time to pollutants, repeated injection cycles, and modifications to plant characteristics or substrate can significantly improve phytoremediation efficiency. Comparative analysis of conventional and enhanced methods revealed that enhanced phytoremediation plants improve both the rate and extent of pollutant removal and can serve as cost-effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly strategies for controlling IAQ. Findings also suggest that selecting appropriate plant species and designing combined systems can maximize IAQ improvement and promote human health in industrial and office settings. Overall, phytoremediation, particularly using multiple plant species under optimized environmental conditions, can effectively enhance indoor air quality and guide the design of practical phytoremediation systems. https://japh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/japh/article/view/1214 https://japh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/japh/article/download/1214/475