Is Your Classroom Making You Sick?

How many teachers (and students) have missed school for no ‘real good reason’ but we just felt awful?  No cold.  No flu.  The doctor says we are fine… but we sure don’t feel fine ~ with symptoms such as respiratory irritations, coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, headaches, and others.

Newly constructed or tightly sealed buildings (newer/remodeled schools), which were built with heating and cooling efficiency in mind, are prime candidates for "sick building syndrome".  The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that sick buildings cause losses of $61 billion a year in employee absenteeism, medical costs, reduced productivity, and lower earnings.

The term "sick building syndrome" is used to describe the occurrence of acute health effects experienced by occupants, which appear related to the time spent in the building with no identifiable illness, or cause of illness.

Toxins in newer buildings originate from sources such as new paint, carpets, furniture, newly stained or sealed wood and plastic surfaces, which release large amounts of chemicals.  Major pollutants found in these buildings are benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. It seems our pretty, brand new, shining classrooms that we are all so excited about come at a cost, but how much do we really have to ‘pay’?

Many teachers have plants in their rooms because they look pretty and make the classroom seem less institutional.  After all, on some days many of us see more of our classrooms than our homes.  However, live plants may offer more than we realize ~ so maybe we should be more strategic with our plant choices.

Dr. B.C. Wolerton, a NASA researcher, studied the idea of using plants as indoor air-fresheners and cleaners.   Common houseplants were tested for their effectiveness filtering these materials from our indoor air. The plants were grown in conditions much like those in our homes, offices, and schools.

Left in their original pots, plants were watered when they were dry and fertilized periodically with Miracle-Gro.  Since scientists were also curious to see if the microbial life in the potting soil had any advantageous effect on air filtration, the potting soil was used as a control.  

Each plant's ability to filter chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, was tested over a 24-hour period. A measured quantity of each gas was introduced into sealed chambers containing one potted plant. Twenty-four hours later, the level of the gas was compared to the initial amount.

These tests were conducted over a two-year period using a number of different concentrations of each gas. Researchers used low level testing, along with concentrations well above levels found in most buildings.  These experiments noted that certain plants can significantly decrease the concentration of some toxic materials.

Most house plants can help clean the air of at least one of the pollutants (formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene). Plant roots appear to play the most significant role in cleaning and decomposing pollutants. Certain indoor plants, like Philodendron and Chlorophytum stood out with their efficiency. One plant per 100 square feet is recommended.  More detailed results from the NASA study are found below:

Though the following plants were not tested in the NASA study, they are also well known for their air-cleaning abilities.  Many are variations within the genus of a studied plant or from the same family or subfamily.

Suggested Plants to Start Maximizing Cleaning “Power”

Below is a list of a few plants with their cleaning “specialty”.  If you have no idea about plants and/or really don’t care what type of plants are in your classroom – the first three are probably the best combo.  I know teachers who have had these and they appeared pretty low maintenance.  Of course you can substitute as you like and/or gradually add to your collection  – I am personally not a big fan of the peace-lily or yellow mums, as they remind me of funeral homes, but that's me.  If you already have English Ivy in your home garden, it transplants fairly easily.

Pictures click on text for larger image

Sources:

Environmental Protection Agency (1991). Sick building syndrome. Air and radiation, indoor air facts, 4.

 

Healthy Houseplants Website:  http://www.healthyhouseplants.com

 

Houseplant Care Website:  http://houseplants-care.blogspot.com/2007/03/general-houseplant-lighting-guide.html

 

Hungarian Association for Environmentally Aware Management (KÖVET).  Using plants to clean indoor air-pollutants.  Training website:  http://tavoktatas.kovet.hu/english/tartalom_belso-legter_karosanyag_e.htm , Budapest, Hungary.

Rose, Floral & Greenhouse, Inc (2008). Green plants and clean indoor air.   http://www.rosefloral.com/nsplnt.htm

Wolverton, B.C. (1990). Interior landscape plants and their role in improving indoor air quality. Wolverton Environmental Services Inc., Picayune, Mississippi.

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