Staying home, hanging around inside, quarantining — the effects of seemingly neverending precautions to isolate can have real health repercussions. A condition known as sick building syndrome is a broad label covering a range of symptoms that affect individuals who spend time in particular structures. Symptoms of people experiencing this syndrome may range from itchy eyes, skin rashes and nasal symptoms to more vague symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains, sensitivity to odors.
Sound familiar to folks who are cooped up inside for long periods of time?
Factors that contribute to sick building syndrome include biological as well as chemical contaminants. Biological impurities or pollutants may be mold, bacteria, allergies triggered by living pests like dust mites or other insects. Chemical contaminants found indoors can include ordinary paint, carpet, cleaning products, tobacco smoke, upholstery and fireplace residue.
Two immediate solutions that can diminish these symptoms are getting outdoors or bringing green into the structure. If it is a simple case of being inside for a prolonged period of time, get outdoors. Our moderating day temperatures are just right for walking.
If conditions don’t allow getting outdoors, bring green into the home. WebMD.com (Health Benefits of Houseplants) lists plants that can provide tangible benefits. Some of these are below.
• Allergy relief. Research shows that rooms with plants have less dust and mold than rooms without any foliage. Foliage naturally filters and traps allergens and other airborne particles. Low-light houseplants like the peace lily are easy to grow and do the job.
• Mood elevators. Research shows employees working in offices with plants are more optimistic and positive about their jobs, have less worry, and take fewer sick days. WebMD recommends blooming plants or fresh bouquets in the work environment.
• Increasing moisture. Winter months are the driest when furnaces are busy heating. Low humidity can raise chances for colds and flu. WebMD recommends spider plants as being particularly effective in raising the moisture in a room.
• Air purifiers. This characteristic is perhaps the most significant in a discussion that chemical contaminants contribute to the sick building syndrome. Chemical contaminants are released into the air as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can build up in an enclosure resulting in eye and skin irritations, even difficulty breathing. WebMD recommends English ivy and asparagus ferns as good air-scrubbers.
Some information from The Environmental Illness Resource
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
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