Fact Sheet: Air Quality in The Workplace
2.5 million Australians work in offices. Many offices suffer from poor indoor air quality (IAQ) from a build-up of contaminants from air pollutants including: carbon monoxide, nitrates, sulfur dioxide, ozone, smoke and fine particulate matter. These contaminants often originate from the air intakes of air conditioning systems in large buildings. As buildings are usually sealed with no opening windows to conserve energy, these pollutants build-up inside, particularly due to a lack of air exchanges i.e. the amount of air being replaced by fresh air compared with the air being re-circulated by air conditioning system. Although the word “fresh air” used in the context of a large city is somewhat out of place.
The use of photocopiers and printers without air purification or ventilation also add to indoor air pollutants.
Work or live in the CDB of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and chances are you will be breathing high levels of lung damaging particles generated from motor vehicle and truck exhaust. Fine dust is also generated from brake pads every time a vehicle brakes. Besides the particles there are also the chemical vapours from the combustion of fuel which includes carcinogenic chemicals such as benzene and toluene.
There is a large amount of scientific information on the effects of breathing air contaminated with high levels of fine particles and chemical pollutants. One of best sources to read further information is the website of your State EPA or Health Department.
Many employers do not take air quality at work seriously and the costs are high. The NSW Government’s Public Works Committee calculated in 2001 that poor indoor air quality costs approximately $12 billion a year in medical expenses, lost productivity and absenteeism and that between 40-60% of offices suffer from sick building syndrome.
Symptoms of poor indoor air quality
The health effects of poor indoor air quality are not usually dramatic. Most commonly people find they experience sneezing or an aggravated throat in the office which disappears when leave. Colds & flu are also commonly spread in offices from airborne bacteria and viruses. Other symptoms include:
- Headaches, nausea, fatigue, depression,
- Irritation of the skin, throat, eyes & nose
- Reduced concentration levels and sleepiness.
Common culprits of poor indoor air quality in offices & buildings
- Bacteria and mould haboured in air conditioning systems.
- Contaminated air from air conditioning intakes.
- Newly renovated areas with new carpet, paint and building materials. The common new carpet and paint smell.
- Formaldehyde emitted from new medium density fiberboard (MDF) timber office furniture.
- Office equipment, particularly when new, which off-gasses volatile organic compounds: primarily computers, photocopiers.
- Ozone emitted from photocopiers and chemical ink vapours from printed materials.
- The use of pesticides
As a general rule if you can smell it, you’re breathing it.
InovaAir air purifiers are fully Australian made and designed to remove all kinds of indoor air pollution. For further information call 1300 880 241.