You are not the only one who can work at your desk. You may not realize it because they are so still and tranquil, but plants work incredibly hard. They can labour exceptionally relentlessly for you at your desk, and turn a stressful environment into a healthy alcove. Having indoor plants can drastically alter the atmosphere around you and have proven to have countless health benefits.

Plants at your desk purify and cleanse the stale office air you breathe everyday. They work non-stop to sieve the air around us from pollutants and they provide continuous oxygen and moisture to their indoor surroundings. According to Dr. Bill Wolverton, former NASA research scientist, the efficiency and effectiveness of the roles of indoor plants is parallel to the effectiveness of the rainforest to our biosphere. Dr. Wolverton discovered that houseplants reduce up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from our offices and homes. These VOCs include ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene and benzene. VOCs are often used in paint, carpet backing, plastics, and cosmetics. The EPA found concentrations of VOCs indoors to be two to five times greater than outdoors.

A recent study claims that having plants in your area can reduce health problems. Among some of the reduced ailments were exhaustion, respiratory conditions, and headaches. Another study at the University of Washington found that workers who were in an office without windows and who were surrounded by plants had a 12% quicker reaction time when it came to computer tasks, and had lowered blood pressure readings.

In addition, research from the Finnish Kuopio Institute determined that plants may even decrease the intensity of allergens in the air by luring dust particles. Furthermore, plant leaves also lessen noise pollution and can bring back balance in moisture and humidity in small areas.

Some indoor plants filter the air 24 hours a day. Peace lilies, ferns, palms, and spider plants are said to be particularly conscientious. According to Portland-Oregon Magazine.com, among the top ten air purifiers are “snake plants, broad sword ferns and rubber plants. They’re easy to grow, are natural humidifiers and remove airborne chemicals. Other green heroes are chrysanthemums, Gerbera daisies and spider plants.”