|
Interior plants are normally chosen for aesthetic
reasons, but research by NASA into artificial environments has found that
living office plant are an effective means of combating air pollution in
closed spaces.
Offices can expose people to increased levels of over a
hundred carcinogens, namely VOC's (volatile organic compounds). The
exposure to these cancer causing chemicals is due to modern building
techniques, products,
the office environment and artificial air conditioning. Some buildings have
such high levels of contaminants that they are known as "Sick Buildings"
because they cause multiple symptoms of sickness. For example, do
you or your colleagues complain of headaches, stuffy offices or poor
ventilation ? Combined with increased ventilation rates and other recommended remedies plants can help fix 'Sick
Buildings'. Whilst living plants provide the greatest
benefits, modern artificial plants manufactured from silk look impressively
life like and can improve the aesthetic appearance of a room. They can
still lift the work place environment.
THE OFFICE
CHEMICAL COCKTAIL The following are just a sample of
the common gaseous chemicals in your office that can be harmful with
accumulated
exposure e.g. benzene is a know human carcinogen. They can be absorbed by green office plants.
|
Chemical
|
Symptoms
|
Example sources |
|
Acetone
|
headaches, drowsiness, irritation in throat and nose
|
Correction Fluid, People |
|
Ammonia
|
breathing problems
|
Photocopiers |
|
Benzene
|
headaches, drowsiness, nausea and breathing difficulties
|
Photocopiers, Paint, Chipboard |
|
Ethyl- alcohol
|
eye irritation, breathing difficulties, headache,
drowsiness and body tremors
|
Paint, People |
|
Ethyl- acetate
|
anaemia, eye, nose, gum irritation, breathing difficulties
and lethargy.
|
People |
|
Form aldehyde
|
breathing difficulties, eye, ear and nose irritation and
possible carcinogen
|
Paint, Chipboard, Chairs |
|
Methyl - alcohol
|
headache, nausea and irritation of mucous membrane
|
Paint
|
|
Toluene
|
impaired co-ordination, slow reaction times, mental
sluggishness and accident prone.
|
Computer Screens, Photocopies, Paint, Chipboard |
|
Trychloro -ethylene
|
headache, dizziness, memory loss, lassitude, anaemia and
breathing problems.
|
Photocopies |
|
Xylene
|
confusion, nausea, coughs and catarrh
|
Computer Screens, Photocopies, Paint Chipboard |
|
