Many of us spend more time at work than anywhere else. And most of our homes away from home are office cubicles. Cube farms, the 50-year-old static symbol of resistance to change, are good for the business and won’t go away anytime soon. So you should have a plant in your cube.
Despite being good for business, the cube farm is making us sick, according to Danica-Lea Larcombe with Edith Cowan University. She wrote in The Conversation that office cubes can cause real health issues. She argues that office buildings are worse for our health than our homes. Office cubicles usually consist of partitions made of particle board and vinyl carpet, synthetic flooring, a particle board desk, and plastic or synthetic office chairs, lit mainly by artificial lighting with poor ventilation. All of these factors combine to make us cranky and sick.
Chemical compounds
The author writes that formaldehyde is one of the many chemical compounds given off by synthetic office furnishings. It can irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat and cause allergic contact dermatitis. Irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract, as well as headaches, are the most commonly reported symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde toxins.
Other harmful chemicals in the office mentioned in the article include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene, and even ammonia from cleaning products. High carbon dioxide levels breathed out by a roomful of colleagues can give the room that “stuffy” feeling, mainly if there is no air conditioning.
The author says one excellent way to combat sick days and stress is to fill your office with plants. She recommends plants that will “scrub” the air of pathogens, improve the office’s mix of bacteria, and survive in low light with little care.
Indoor plants purify the air, reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. A NASA clean air study tested common indoor plants’ ability to filter pollutants and found that many effectively remove organic compounds from the air. The article says, one medium-sized plant per 24 square feet of office space should be used for best results.
Plant bacterias
Dr. Larcombe says you should also improve the balance of indoor bacteria to survive in the office environment. There are already trillions of bacteria in offices, but only a limited amount come in through open windows and air conditioning from the outdoor environment. Most bacteria, fungi, and viruses come from people; we leave behind a microbial cloud on our skin wherever we go. The office environment creates new habitats for microbial communities that are foreign to human skin and not good for your health.
Beneficial bacteria on indoor plants and their soil are essential to the office, stabilizing its synthetic environment. Plant-associated bacteria could also help avoid disease outbreaks by enhancing microbial biodiversity and balancing the complex network of the ecosystem. A wholesome balance may reduce the incidence of viral illness and the number of sick days among staff. It’s not just the size of the plant that’s important here. Larger pots mean more root mass and soil surface for helpful bacteria and root microbes.
Plants promote public health
The article also claims plants can help beat stress. Over the past 30 years, research has shown that green spaces promote public health and that contact with nature can shift highly stressed people to a more positive emotional state. Research has found that when present, plants reduce mental stresses:
- Tension/Anxiety – 37% reduction
- Depression/Dejection – 58% reduction
- Anger/Hostility – 44% reduction
- Fatigue – 38% reduction
There are a few basic principles for a good office plant. It must be hardy, easy to maintain, and able to survive without water over weekends (or when the regular plant carer goes on holiday). Plants adapted to low light will do the most good in cubicles and spaces away from windows. Look for species with large leaves (the more leaf surface area, the more efficient it is). Avoiding plants that flower extravagantly is also a good idea, but it may cause allergic reactions. Check with your colleagues before introducing new plants.
Some of the best plants the article recommends for the office are:
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Offices, particularly those with many people, poor ventilation, or low natural light, should consider plants necessary. Plants will improve the atmosphere, mood, and health of the workplace.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
There is a growing body of that evidence that your desk is killing you. Research suggests that sedentary office workers and other inactive people are at a relatively high risk of dying early. 
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