Office Use
A recent World Health Organization report suggests that up to 30% of new and remodelled commercial buildings may have issues relating to indoor air quality. The concentration of contaminants in these office buildings, which in some cases have accumulated for years, can severely affect your health. These adverse health effects are sometimes referred to as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
According to the US Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), indoor air quality problems in offices are not limited to old buildings, but can occur in newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings as well. While older buildings that have not been adequately maintained may become reservoirs for microbial growth, the air quality issues in new buildings are more likely to be chemically-related (e.g., off-gassing from building materials). Also, poor building ventilation can cause issues regardless of the age of the structure, with contaminants building up to levels that can cause serious short and long-term health problems.
Fact: Office buildings are designed to provide 10 litres of fresh outdoor air to every person each second, however, in some months 85% of the indoor air you are breathing is re-circulated
Even if you work in what seems to be a relatively clean environment, you may still be exposed to indoor air pollutants from the following:
- Working in an old building. Ductwork may contain dust, mould spores and bacteria that are then circulated through the entire building
- Working in a recently renovated building. Construction may have uncovered or released hazardous materials into the air (e.g., asbestos, lead)
- Aging or poorly maintained HVAC systems. Can leak carbon monoxide and other harmful combustion gases into the air
- Recently painted walls, new carpets and furniture. Can emit chemicals such as formaldehyde for up to 5 years
- Computers, photocopiers and other electrical equipment. Produce ozone, a toxic gas that is a known lung irritant and asthma trigger
- Laser printers. Can emit dangerous fine particulates
- Underground parking facilities. Carbon monoxide from vehicles can be sucked into air intakes and circulated through the building
- Cleaning products. Produce harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Fluorescent lighting. May produce photochemical smog
- Moist plant soils and dirty overflow trays. Ideal breeding grounds for mould and bacteria
In addition, in an open office environment, people with sensitivities to odours such as perfume can suffer immensely, and the potential for virus and bacteria transfer between workers is very high.
Laser printer emissions are worthy of special mention as they have recently begun to be recognized as a serious health threat to office workers. In addition to ozone, numerous studies have confirmed that laser printers can emit fine and ultra-fine particles in the process of fusing the toner to paper. Studies conducted by the Queensland University of Technology’s Air Quality and Health program indicate that standard laser printers can increase indoor air pollution in an office by as much as 500%, with the concentration of microscopic particles near printers reaching levels several times greater than that produced by traffic on a busy road. Toxicological studies suggest that, when inhaled, these fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can remain for long periods of time, causing acute or chronic illnesses.
Fact from the Environmental Science & Technology Journal:
Standard office laser printers can emit as much fine-particle pollution as cigarette smoke
By protecting your personal air space through the use of a small air purifier at your work station or in your office, you can improve your health, comfort, concentration, energy level, productivity and general well-being throughout the work day.
