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If you or your fellow employees suffer from chronic headaches, nausea, itchy eyes and unexplained fatigue, indoor air quality may be a part of the problem.
Indoor air can contain potentially hazardous materials that can cause a variety of health problems that are not usually associated with air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency has done studies of human exposure to air pollutants that indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of concern because most people spend about 90% of their time indoors.
Poor indoor air quality has a range of causes: from the use of common materials, bacteria build up, mold, mildew, dust circulation, or the use of some chemicals. Some buildings may be inadequately ventilated (i.e. mechanical ventilation systems may not be designed to provide enough outdoor air).
Molds, mildew, fungi, dust, bacteria and other pollutants can cause headaches, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, and fatigue. Products like aerosol sprays, cleansers, air fresheners and other products are often the cause of the health problems, yet they are not often seen as the cause.
There are a few recommendations that can be followed to determine if indoor air quality is a concern. If an employee has any of the symptoms mentioned in some areas of the building, but does not exhibit them in another area or when they go home, then there is a possibility it could be an indoor air quality problem.
If this is the case, airborne particle tests can be run to determine if it is a problem or not. Also, switching the type of products used to clean the area can result in a reduction of symptoms, if the symptoms were a reaction to the chemicals in another product. A thorough cleaning and removal of circulating dust and other particulates can reduce eye and throat irritation, which may contribute to other health problems.
In order to keep healthy employees, monitor their health problems and watch for symptoms that may be related to the air quality. Ask them if they think it might be the area they work in that is causing their problems.
Also, it is important to keep detailed records of the products used in your rooms, for cleaning, polishing, air freshening, etc. to monitor what chemicals are being introduced. Regular cleaning of areas and systems that circulate air throughout the building is a recommended course of action. Taking all of these symptoms and their prevention to heart can help us all to breath a little easier.
Note: Information for this article was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency's website and publications. The site provides a study assessing the compatibilities and trade-offs between energy, indoor quality, and thermal comfort objectives for HVAC systems. More extensive information about this topic can be found at: www.epa.gov/iaq
Also, in today's world of war abroad and the threat of terrorism at home, there is an excellent booklet available that addresses protecting the air quality in your business. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) has developed a set of recommendations, "Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks". It is available at https://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/bldvent/2002-139.html
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