Hi Bonnie,

Your husband is right on this one. A study sponsored by NASA and conducted by Dr. Bill Wolverton concluded that houseplants are able to clean the air of harmful chemical toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene; unfortunately none have been shown to remove tobacco smoke from the air. Here are some examples of plants that clean the air: Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, Dracaenas (janet craig, marginata, warneki), Peace Lily, Sansevieria, English Ivy, Spider Plants, Pothos,  Mums, and Gerber Daisys. You can find a complete list of  plants that clean the air in the Plant Wizard section of the website.

http://www.houseplant411.com/pick-the-right-indoor-houseplant

Here are some pictures of houseplants that clean the air.

Dracaena janet craig

Peace Lily