The increasing number of office building that use air conditioner, cigarette smoke pollution, high concentrate of carbon dioxide, as well as electronic waveradiation cause sick building syndrom. The desease occurs in some people who work at office with symptoms such as eyes irritation, headache, sneezing at the morning, difficult to concentrating, and many more.

Some of the sollution to solve that problems is to put some of anti-pollutant plants at the office. These plants are low maintenance plants. Some company have tested these plants at their office. These plants are:

 

• Sansevieria sp, this succulent usually called mother-in-law-tongue, and often used to reduse odor and radiation from electronic devices such as computer, telephone, and printer. The researce fro United States Space Agency (NASA) has found proofs that these plants are naturally capable to absorb more than 107 elements contained pollutant in the air. It’s because sansevieria has pregnane glikosid to reduce pollutant and convert to organic acid, sugar, and amino acid. 
• Anthurium sp this plant will grow well near to devise with high radiation. Other than that, the office will be cooler although the air condition set at 25 degrees Celcius. 
• Palem kuning (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens). JThis kind of palm can grow up to 5 m. Its ability absorb toxin highest than the other plants. Small-sized plant suitable to be placed inside room and the big-sized can be planted on the roadside to absorb toxic gases from car and factory. This palm as high as 1,8 m can produce vapor littre/24 hours. Its ability to absorbs Trikloroetilen 16,520 microgram, Benzena 34,073 microgram, and Formaldehida 76,707 microgram per 24 hours.
• Philodendron sp, these plants effective to absorb Formaldehyde found in glue and plaster 8,000 microgram per 24 hours so it’s fits to be placed as an indoor plant. 
• Aglonema sp, this plant (Araceae Family) produce water vapor to make office moist. Other than that it produce phytochemical that suppress population of bacteria and mold spores in the room up to 50 -60%. Experiments have shown that the amoebas or bacteria are placed near to fresh leaf will be destroyed in some minutes. Another function is to reduce pain, increase concentration, and relieve fatigue.

        

Some of testimony said that the employee from some office building feel health and more spirit to work not affected by Sick Building Syndrom. In addition, by extending the anti-pollutant plant green plants, we can avoid the Heat Island Effect (the heat island phenomenon) because of more and more building and pollution as well as green open land.

THIS EARTH  IS ENVIRONTMENT LIVING, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY LIVE.

CARE TIP
To support anti-pollutant plant perform its function well, we need to needs some extra attention such as:

• The pores on plant leaves is a part to absorb toxic. It often covered by dust. Moreover, indoor plants is not affected by rain water that can shed dusts. For this reason, wif the surface of the leaves regularly with a cotton swab and water, so that the pores free from dusts.
• Don’t forget to bring the plants out of the room so that they gets enouh sunlight. At least every 2-3 days. Better if you have a lot of the same type of plant, so it can be alternately placed in the room.

(Written By Lusi Saleh - PT Edelweiss Cantiqa Lestari)