Ever wondered how much of an impact design has on health?
A good quality space and furniture design is vital to provide the necessary ventilation required to keep indoor air pollution to a minimum, especially in busy workplaces. Indoor air pollution has been ranked as one of the top environmental hazards faced by the general public by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). We inhale more than approximately 15,000 quarts of air every day. This is a massive amount considering that we don’t give the same importance to the quality of air that we are breathing in comparison to the health benefits of clean drinking water of which we consume 2 quarts per day.
Most of the Canadian population works indoors during the day, where a flow of fresh air is limited. Coupled with the fact that some offices house more than one employee and improper ventilation system, it is obvious that the quality of air inhaled decreases substantially. This has a profound effect on the productivity and health of the employees. Therefore, it is of great significance that indoor air pollution be monitored and kept to a minimum.
Factors That Cause Indoor Pollution
It is widely known that smoking and combustion of solid fuels inside buildings causes air pollution. Also, the fact that some asbestos containing insulations and paint contribute to lead poisoning and are extremely hazardous to health, that is why they are no longer used. However, these are not the only major causes of indoor air pollution.
Furniture, air fresheners, cleaning products, moisture levels, cleaning products and humidifiers are all considered to contribute to potential risks in indoor air pollution. The characteristic smell of new cabinets and wooden furnitures at workplaces is sometimes caused by toxic adhesives keeping the wood products together. These leach into the air and can pose a health threat to employees inhaling the same air all through the day. Apart from this carpets, sofas and upholstery can sometimes contain harmful chemicals, which are found in laundry detergents and can contribute to air pollution. Moisture levels in offices can also be harmful, as environments high in humidity present an ideal breeding ground for mold spores which are responsible for a host of breathing problems in people.
Health Problems Associated With Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality is a known factor in decreased productivity at workplaces. Where there is insufficient supply of clean fresh air to breathe, employees would suffer from various health problems thereby lowering the charts of their performance. Symptoms like eye irritation, headaches, congestion in the upper respiratory tract and recurrent coughing and flu would surface and may even lead to complications like Legionnaires’ Disease which is a type of pneumonia associated with long term exposure to poor quality air. Other ailments like job stress, anxiety, and gastric disturbances may also be attributed to indoor air pollution at workplaces.
It is important for offices to keep a check on the quality of air present in their buildings. The scale of air pollution is measured in AQI (Air Quality Index) and EPA gives a recommended measure of up to levels of 150, anything more would be considered unhealthy. Hence it is the responsibility of workplaces to provide a safe environment for their employees to maximize productivity and lower any potential health risks.
By Sally Writes