The Health Effect of Houseplant on the Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

Abstract

P-316 Abstract: Indoor air pollution is now considered by many experts to be one of the major threats to health. Attempts to reduce the incidence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) have resulted in increased ventilation, the use of low-emission building materials and furnishings, and better preventive maintenance procedures. Ironically, the technology arising from futuristic space exploration may have revealed natural solutions that are as old as the earth itself (B.C. Wolverton, 1996). In order to estimate the health effect of houseplants on the symptoms of SBS, we selected 60 households with (n=30) and without (n=30) intervention from one complex of new apartments located in Seoul, Korea. They were all located in the same complex. Before intervention in the households, we had first researched indoor environment, and conducted clinical and survey investigations during June and July, 2005. Clinical examination and plant arrangement in the intervention households became effective at the end of July. After the first investigation, second research on the adaptable time and effect of houseplants was executed in Oct. In this study, 8 species of houseplants known to be eco-friendly and 12 other plants were. In addition, we investigated whether or not the owners have indoor plants, use an air cleaner, have a pet, smoke indoors, have bought new furniture renovated the apartment, etc. The chemicals of indoor environmental research were benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and formaldehyde, while the clinical research items were spirometer lung function checkup, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count, total eosinophil count, and total-immunoglobulin E. The variation of SBS symptoms for residents living in the new apartments was measured by intervention. To evaluate the mental health variation according to whether intervention or not, we used a list of questions (Symptom Check List – 90 Revision). In the final results compared to the non-intervention households, the intervention households had reduced levels of benzene, toluene, xylene and formaldehyde, but the reduction was not significant (p>0.05). There was no association between the intervention and the estimated lung function, inflammation reaction and allergic reaction. In addition, SBS symptoms were reduced in the intervention households compared with the non-intervention. Finally, our evaluation of the 5 symptoms of mental health determined that somatization, hostility, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression were significantly reduced in the intervention households. Finally, the effect of houseplants was not related to the clinical results. Nevertheless, positive effect was achieved in terms of formaldehyde and BTEX concentrations, SBS and mental questionnaire evaluation.