Recently I attended a talk by Adjunct Professor Margaret Burchett from the University of Technology, Sydney.  She was presenting the findings of her 3 year study “Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing”.  Okay so the title is pretty naff but the findings were not!

Air quality indoors is often worse than outdoors due to the build up of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).   These are given off by people, electronic devices, plastics, paints and other synthetic materials. In enclosed environments levels can quickly rise and have significant negative impacts on us. Given that 90% of peoples’ time is spent indoors (shocking but true) air quality is something we really should think about.

 
Professor Burchett’s study revealed that indoor plants can:

• Reduce carbon dioxide by 10-25%
• Reduce carbon monoxide by 90%
• Reduce VOCs from a range of 80-400ppb to always under 100ppb (neglible respiratory health risk levels)

So how do plants do it? Well the carbon monoxide and dioxide is soaked up by the leaves of plants and replaced with oxygen.  Soil microbes (bacteria mainly) in the potting mix breakdown the carbon monoxide and toxic VOCs into harmless components.  It is suspected that these components then become nutrients for the plant.  Together the plant and microbes are very effective at purifying the air.

All it took was 2 floor plants (300mm diameter pots) or 3 desk plants (200mm pots) per office. Several different types of plants were trialled and the good news is that any plant that happily lives indoors should achieve these results!  Leafier plants though were more effective at removing carbon dioxide.

Prof Margaret Burchett with Ray Borg from Ambius (study supporter)

Another fascinating aspect of the study was the impact of plants on negative moods in office workers.  With the presence of indoor plants people showed:

• 37% reduction in tension/anxiety
• 58% reduction in depression/dejection
• 44% reduction in anger/hostility
• 38% reduction in fatigue
• 30% reduction in confusion
• 4.5% increase in vigour

These findings add to the existing body of research showing that indoor plants significantly reduce worker sick days, increase productivity and overall job satisfaction.  Is there nothing these little green miracles can’t do?

Informal meeting space with climbing cissus

So go get yourself a few indoors plants and be happier and healthier.  Remember you don’t need to turn your home or office into a jungle to reap the benefits but if you do send me some photos!

PS If you want to read the complete report go to: www.nipa.asn.au/uts_project.htm

PS Don’t forget to check out The Plant Addict Shop while you’re here. 

You’ll find great gift ideas for garden lovers and fellow plant addicts!