{"id":85555,"date":"2018-03-17T13:56:37","date_gmt":"2018-03-17T17:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/blog\/index.php\/"},"modified":"2021-08-22T15:20:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-22T19:20:43","slug":"take-a-plant-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/take-a-plant-to-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a Plant to Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Take<\/a>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.<\/p>\n

\"TakeDespite being good for business, the cube farm is making us sick,<\/strong> according to Danica-Lea Larcombe<\/a> with Edith Cowan University<\/a>. She wrote<\/a> in The Conversation<\/em><\/a>\u00a0that office cubes can cause real health issues. She argues that office buildings are worse for our health than our homes<\/a>. Office cubicles usually consist of partitions made of particle board<\/strong> and vinyl carpet<\/strong>, synthetic flooring<\/strong>, a particle board desk, and plastic or synthetic office chairs, lit mainly by artificial lighting<\/strong> with poor ventilation<\/strong>. All of these factors combine to make us cranky and sick.<\/p>\n

Chemical compounds<\/h3>\n

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<\/strong>, as well as headaches, are the most commonly reported symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde toxins.<\/p>\n

\"Dangerous<\/p>\n

Other harmful chemicals<\/strong> in the office mentioned in the article include benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene,\u00a0xylene<\/a>, and even ammonia<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

The author says one excellent way to combat sick days and stress is to fill<\/strong>\u00a0your office with plants<\/strong>. She recommends plants that will “scrub” the air of pathogens<\/strong>, improve the office’s mix of bacteria, and survive in low light with little care.<\/p>\n

\"Cube<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Indoor plants purify the air, reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs)<\/strong>, including formaldehyde. A NASA<\/a> clean air study<\/a> tested common indoor plants’ ability to filter pollutants and found that many effectively remove organic compounds from the air. The article says,\u00a0 one medium-sized plant per 24 square feet of office space should be used for best results.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Plant bacterias<\/h3>\n

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<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Beneficial bacteria on indoor plants and their soil are essential to the office, stabilizing its synthetic environment<\/strong>. Plant-associated bacteria could also help avoid disease outbreaks by enhancing microbial biodiversity<\/strong> and balancing the complex network of the ecosystem. A wholesome balance may reduce the incidence of viral illness and the number of sick days<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"reduce<\/p>\n

Plants promote public health<\/h3>\n

The article also claims plants can help beat stress<\/strong>. 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<\/a> has found that when present, plants reduce mental stresses:<\/p>\n