International Symposium Confirms Plants Can Improve Health, Air Quality and Quality of Lives

The "Plants for People" Organisation reports that the International Plants for People Symposium, 'Reducing Health Complaints at Work', held at Floriade, Holland in June 2002, provided conclusive proof that plants can dramatically affect the quality of our work and home lives, with significant health benefits resulting. Internationally renowned scientists and speakers flew in from all parts of the globe to address the delegates on the latest findings on the effects of plants.

Our own Dr. Ronald Wood from the University of Technology in Sydney, was a guest key speaker. Ron presented information and research on how he had identified how plants and the potting compost interact to cleanse the air, was that the more VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the air the more effective the plants are a cleansing. "When we remember that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air, having plants in our homes and workplaces becomes very important," Ron said. Dr. Wood quoted "Plants clean, plant shaped ornaments pollute". Challenged by the suggestion that artificial plants could be just as effective, Professor Wood not only refuted the description of artificial, preferring the far more accurate term "plant shaped ornaments", but conclusively demonstrated by his research that they can actually further pollute the system by expelling VOCs into the air, not diminishing them.

Professor Roger Ulrich of Texas A&M University focused on the effects of plants in hospital workplaces in improving patient recovery time, reducing dependence on serious postoperative drugs and the relaxation and increased focus of staff, where green plants were present. His research in the San Diego Children's Hospital, which had been redesigned to ensure that every patient had a view or were in the presence of plants, resulted in the number of operations increasing by 13% per year and charitable donations going up by $16 million. Very significant for the highly competitive private hospital sector. Staff attitudes and commitment also improved as a result of the 'greening' of the hospital. Professor Ulrich concluded by saying "without plants you could be out of business". A view that is obviously being taken seriously as he has been asked to address the Netherlands Government Health Body.

A more relaxed and happier workplace is healthier and more productive, at least that was the experience of the Radium Hospital in Oslo, which for 5 years featured as guinea pigs for Norwegian Professor Tjove Fjeld. After putting plants and full spectrum lighting into the workplace, their absenteeism level due to minor health and sickness problems, reduced from 15 % to 5.6% and stayed that way over the full 5 years. And in another three-month experiment earlier this year, the Nordea Bank returned similar figures - overall an average 10% reduction in staff illnesses.

Germany, architect Dieter Schempp shared his 'put into practice' vision of solar architecture and the use of plants. Creating buildings fit for plants is great for humans. Schempp practices what he preaches, his first office was in a meagre glasshouse which has grown into a smart modern solar panelled structure shaded by huge indoor plants in summer. Schempp uses plants in his glass buildings - taking care to use glass with a K - value of 0.8 to provide shade, deflect noise, and improve the ambient temperature and to cleanse and recycle air. With work at MOMA in New York, as well as international awards, his views are gaining great currency in the world of architecture.

John Berg from Holland, advised that "plants make PC workers more efficient" due to his studies into the effects plants have on office workers at the engineering firm DHV AIB. Whilst spatial design and office technology from air conditioning to computerisation, has changed considerably in the last 30 years, consideration has not been given to the effects of these changes on the workers. Berg found that for workers who spent four hours or more a day in front of the computer screen, the introduction of plants made a significant improvement to their efficiency, concentration and general well being. This could have a hugely beneficial impact for more than 7.6 million desk bound office workers in the UK alone, most of whom will be PC users. (source; Plants for People)