Although offices can vary widely in size as well as the kind of setting, there is one thing that runs in common through them all: all office-goers spend their work days in pretty tight enclosures wherein they have no option but to endure a slew of indoor pollutants.

In fact, many well documented studies conducted by environmental scientists, have stated that indoor pollution in the office is ten times worse than pollution that people come into contact with in their cars. What this implies is that office pollution is worse than smog and exhaust combined!

What Causes Pollution in Offices?

This is due in part to bad circulation and air ventilation in 80% of all offices around the world. This means that people who work in an office setting come into contact with pollutants that are harmful to their health each and every day. These pollutants include but are not limited to: mold, dust and VOC’s. Prolonged exposure to these types of pollutants can result in numerous health issues. The statistics are scary and more and more people are recognizing this looking for methods to free the air in their office of pollution.

Can Office Pollution be Prevented or Minimized?

The good news is, a pollution-free atmosphere in the office can be easily accomplished by the introduction of certain types of plants into the office place. It has been clinically proven that there are several varieties of plants that can actually absorb office air pollution and can then purify it and release fresh oxygen into the air.

Adding a few plants at various locations in the office would improve the environment within immediately. Alternatively, adding one or two of the below varieties to your own desk would help enhance at least the quality of your own personal space.

The Top 10 Fresh Air Plants for the Office

Herein, you will discover some plants that have been proven most effective in eliminating pollution in the office.

1. Arrowhead Vine – Syngonium Podophyllum – Features upwards growing stems with arrow shaped leaves. Though the surface of the plant is dark green, it will have either while, silver or pink markings on the surface of the leaf.

2. Bamboo Palm – Chamedora Seifrizii- These are tall, green plants that can grow between 3 to 6 feet in height. These plants are commonly considered “floor plants”. They resemble bamboo trees.

3. Boston Fern- Contains frilly leaves and fronds which are very low hanging. These plants are generally grown in hanging pots. The leaves are small but the branches are long from the base. It is light green to medium green in color

4. Dracaenas - also known as ‘Janet Craig’ – A medium sized plant with 3 to 6 stalks. Will grow up to 2 feet in height. Leaves cascade down from the stalk and are between 4 and 5 inches. The plant is medium green.

5. English Ivy – Hedera Helix- These plants can vine and become up to 50 feet tall if not pruned properly. They can additionally ground grow but are generally restricted in growth by the size of their pot. They are green with white or yellow on the small ivy looking leaves. Does not need direct sunlight.

6. Warnock – Dracaena Warneckii- A narrow growing medium sized shrub. The leaves appear striped in white or yellow and have sharp points. The stripes run the length of the leaves. Is a perfect room temperature plant that needs little watering.

7. Peach Lily –Spathiphyllum- A basic green plant with dark green leaves. Does flower with tall while flowers. It will bloom repeatedly throughout the year, and will thrive in the shade. Grows to about 15 to 18 inches in height.

8. Pot Mum – Chrysantheium Morifolium- This is a flowering plant. Thrives in non-direct sunlight and grows quickly. Does not require a great deal of water. Seeds can spread if used outside of a pot.

9. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue – Sansevieria Laurentii- The leaves of the plant resemble snake tongues. The plant is stalky with light green to yellow leaves. The plant grows vertically and has very still leaves. May grow to 70-90 cm.

10. Chinese Evergreen – Aglaonema Modestum- One of the most flexible growing plants. Can thrive in almost any conditions with or without direct sunlight. Grows between 20 and 150 cm in height. The plants leaves are green with white patterns. May also flower and produce berries.

Each of these plants has been proven effective in removing specific toxins from the air. These toxins include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and benzene. These green and flowering plants can remove such toxins from the dry air in an office and can release clean and healthy oxygen back into the environment.

The Benefits of Having Clean and Healthy Air in the Office

When the air in an office is clean of toxins, the workers in the office will breathe easier and will stay healthier. This will mean less sick days amongst office workers!

Interestingly, it has been proven that plants also help create a healthier working environment. Studies conducted by NASA indicate that individuals who work in an office that is full of plants, think more clearly and are more productive than those who work in polluted air offices. This has been further proven time after time in numerous test studies.

If you want to think clearer and work better than you should seriously consider the introduction of a clean-air plant into your workspace. If you work in an office that has yet to discover the many benefits of adding plants to the workplace, you should encourage them to look into the matter, not only your own health and benefit but also for the health and benefit of every employee who works in the office.

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 10:30 AM and is filed under Office Plants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.