LOS ANGELES, CA - April 21, 2004 - --According to the following body of research assembled by Plants at Work (http://www.plantsatwork.org), simply Adopting a Plant This Earth Day is a serious way to positively impact your environment, your employees and your loved ones. "And if every employee urges their boss to adopt new plants, they will be greatly appreciated for the suggestion," says Plants at Work spokesperson, MJ Gilhooley.

The EPA identified the most common indoor toxins, with formaldehyde being the most predominant. Plants at Work shares the following extraordinary toxin removal rates found in common interior plants. The number following each plant species indicates micrograms of formaldehyde removed from the air per hour: Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) 1385; Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifriziil) 1350; Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis) 1328; Peace lily (Spathiphyllum "Clevelandii") 937.

Dr. Bill Wolverton, former NASA Scientist and President of Wolverton Environmental Services, suggest that everyone have a plant on his or her desk, within what he calls the "personal breathing zone." This is an area of six to eight cubic feet where you spend most of your working day. Jon Naar, author of Design for A Livable Planet: How You Can Help Clean Up the Environment (Harper & Row), suggests that 15 to 20 plants are enough to clean the air in a 1,500 square foot area.

Professor Tove Fjeld of the Agricultural University in Oslo, Norway carried out several conclusive studies regarding health claims relating to Sick Building Syndrome among office workers. This crossover study was conducted among 51 offices over two years. When plants were included in the offices, study participants were exposed to 13 commonly used foliage plants. The score sum of 12 symptoms was 23% lower during the period when the participants had plants in their offices. This translated into a 14% decrease in absenteeism.

Dr. Roger Ulrich, Director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M University found that problem-solving skills, idea generation and creative performance improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants. In his studies, both men and women demonstrated more innovative thinking in the presence of plants than they did in an environment with art sculpture or no decorative objects.

The group also points to another recent study by Dr. Ulrich, sponsored by the Society of American Florists indicating that problem-solving skills, idea generation and creative performance improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants. In his studies, both men and women demonstrated more innovative thinking in the presence of plants than they did in an environment with art sculpture or no decorative objects.

Research by Dr. Virginia Lohr of Washington State University (Pullman, Wash.) also found that productivity could be enhanced by as much as 12% in the presence of plants. Study participants also reported feeling more attentive when plants were present.

About Plants at Work
Plants at Work is a national information campaign created to inform professionals and the public about the important benefits of plants in the workplace.

Company Website: http://www.plantsatwork.org

Plants at Work Press Contact: MJ Gilhooley Coordinator, Media Relations email: mj@plantsatwork.org voice: 800-347-9014

Please read recent national press regarding this found at the www.plantsatwork.org