THE WOOD REPORT- Dutch Horticulture Industry Q&A

  A regular article entitled the "WOOD REPORT" will appear monthly in this newsletter from our Australian resident expert  Mr. Ronald Wood who is the Research Associate, Environmental Quality Group, at the University of Technology in Sydney.  Ron is well known to many of the people operating within the interior plantscape sector especially in New South Wales, and is currently commissioned by many countries to provide expertise, research data and input into the interior plantscape industry.

 Ron has provided information on articles presented to the Dutch Horticulture Industry and some of those questions and answers (Q&A) are provided below.  These will be utilized from time to time in this newsletter.

 Q. Do plants in offices have any advantages to health? 

 There is a series of studies, which prove the psychological and physiological improvement of the employees, which can be directly traced back to the presence of plants.  A recent study carried out in Norway and presented at the "Indoor Air Conference 99", proved that indoor plants positively affect the health and discomfort of the office employees.  This effect especially occurs with lighting, which uses the whole color spectrum, this provides advantages to both man and plants equally.  The advantages for health can result from a combination of; 1) the increase of general well-being due to the presence of plants; 2) the creation of a nature like environment; 3) the effect of care shown by the employer towards his employees; 4) the improvement of air quality and humidity through plants.

Q. How relevant is the problem of air pollution in offices?

 More than 300 different Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) were found in the office air.  The sources of this air pollution are carpets, wall paint, varnish, new furniture, glue and wall coverings, which all discharge a comprehensive mixture of organic substances.  Each person leaves a small part of the substances behind in the air everywhere.  Furthermore, we all discharge a number of alcoholic substances which your body naturally producers, into the air.  If these emissions are multiplied with the number of persons in an office or in a crowd of people, then we get a phenomenal result.  If this is then connected with the insufficient ventilation in many buildings, the problem increases.  Nowadays, being exposed to this chemical cocktail is considered to be the main cause for headaches, exhaustion, dry eyes and respiratory problems.  Many employees in offices suffer from these symptoms, which worsen the state of bronchitis and asthma, both having developed to a worldwide epidemic.  Unfortunately most people are unaware of this ever present pollution of the indoor air and do not know how to diminish the problem.

 Q. Indoor plants help to improve the quality of life indoors in many different ways, what are they?

 They reduce the harmful substances in the indoor air, for example volatile organic compounds (VOC's); they support the stabilization of the relative humidity and also support the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange (O²/CO²).

·                They are cheaper in use when compared to powerful air filter systems.

·                They offer flexibility in the selection of their location and, if necessary, can be moved or relocated.

·                They are environmentally friendly.

·                They offer aesthetic stimulants to people in the rooms.

·                They do not cause acoustic problems.

·                They do not interfere with ventilation systems that are already installed.

·                If cared for professionally, they will keep up high results on relatively low maintenance costs.

·                They offer flexibility in their regular care, this means that the maintenance intervals are not of such high importance.

·                They help to create a balanced working climate and thereby support good motivation.

·                They can be used as attractive and splendid room dividers in open plan offices.

·                They reduce blinding effects and the tiring of the eyes in that they reflect yellow/green spectrum, which the human eye response to as being pleasant and relaxing.

·                The introduction of plants requires no change to the structure of the building.

·                They offer the opportunity to discretely solve an environmental problem.

·                Live Plants only require relatively low purchase or regular hire/maintenance costs.

·                The possibility of a sudden breakdown is relatively low.