IAQ's role in creating a safe indoor environment during COVID and beyond
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings. It serves as a measure of health and comfort for the building occupants. In a workplace, indoor air can have a significant impact on the well-being and productivity of employees.
With the coronavirus pandemic shining a spotlight on the importance of healthy indoor air, the awareness and demand for good IAQ have drastically increased. There have been growing actions to improve IAQ in commercial facilities. In order to ensure a safe indoor air environment, we first need to understand the air pollutions inside the buildings and their sources.
What are the common pollutants that impact the IAQ in the workplaces and buildings?
Many buildings have significant indoor air pollution sources.
Some of the most common pollutants and their sources include:
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are chemicals emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. They are the main contributors to poor indoor air quality. In most cases, VOCs are not odourless, and you can smell their presence.
VOCs in commercial facilities may come from housekeeping products, such as cleaning agents, disinfectants, air fresheners and pesticides. Formaldehyde is also a type of VOC found in building materials and furnishings, such as deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation, newly installed flooring, upholstery or carpet and furniture made of certain pressed wood products.
Inhaling VOCs can cause difficulty in breathing and nausea and damage the organs and the central nervous system. Some VOCs may even cause cancer.
Biological contaminants
These pollutants include bacteria, viruses, moulds and dust.
Humid and dusty environments, water-damaged walls, ceilings and carpets, and insufficient ventilation systems will increase the growth of such pollutants. Also, contaminated central heating and air conditioning can become breeding grounds for moulds and other biological contaminants.
When exposed to biological pollutants, one may experience sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lack of energy, fever, and digestive problems. Some biological contaminants can trigger allergic reactions, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) refers to any mixture of solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the air. At workplaces, PM may come from cigarette smoking, renovations and outdoor air pollutions. PM is the cause of numerous respiratory ailments, including asthma, respiratory inflammation, decreased lung function, and cancer.
Other pollutant sources, such as radon, a colourless and odourless radioactive gas released from concrete walls and floors, and ozone produced by photocopying machines, can also contribute to the poor indoor air quality inside the buildings.
Poor IAQ on public health and work efficiency
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is consistently ranked as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. Every year, approximately 3.8 million people around the world die due to indoor air pollution.
Research also indicates that poor indoor air quality decreases human productivity and our ability to process information. The EPA estimates that workplace air pollution affects 33% to 50% of office buildings in the U.S. and is responsible for over 10 million lost workdays per year.
Relevance of IAQ and virus transmission risk
IAQ measures such as temperature, humidity and CO2 levels are considered key factors that can impact the indoor spread of the virus.
For example, viruses thrive in colder (below 21°C) and less humid environments. And, once the virus enters the host, it is up to the host's immune system to remove it, and air quality is an important factor impacting immunity. Lower temperatures and humidity outside the range of 40-60% can weaken the immune system and thus, increase the risk of transmission. Also, when the indoor carbon dioxide level is too high, and there is not enough fresh air circulation to remove viruses from the environment, the building occupants will be at a higher risk of catching the virus.
Recent research also indicates a stark relationship between PM levels and COVID19 mortality. In particular, PM2.5 has been proven to be highly dangerous to COVID19, increasing one microgram (µg/m3) per cubic meter, leading to an 8% increase in COVID19 mortality.
How to ensure a wholesome indoor environment?
Covid-19 transmission can be particularly effective in crowded, confined indoor spaces such as offices and other commercial buildings, making it more critical than ever to ensure your buildings maintains the best air quality. Below are our recommended strategies to achieve a healthy IAQ.
Monitor indoor air quality
Monitoring IAQ is at the core of minimising the risk of transmission and achieving quality indoor air. As you continue monitoring over time, the data you receive can help you understand your building's overall air quality, and you will have all the information you need to obtain a good IAQ. In addition, real-time air quality monitoring can alert building managers to the level and nature of the pollution, empowering corrective and in-time action.
Recommended core categories for sensor measuring are:
CO2
Particulate matter
VOCs
Humidity
Formaldehyde
Temperature
Improving ventilation
Ventilation plays a vital role in indoor air quality. It improves indoor air quality by removing pollutants from the buildings and by bringing in the fresh air.
However, problems sometimes arise with mechanical ventilation systems that may result in indoor air quality problems. For instance, contaminants may collect within the ventilation devices, introducing pollutants into the environment. Or, if the outdoor air intake is located next to a pollutant source, it may serve as a pathway to carry the contaminants inside.
Source control
When a particular source can be identified, controlling the source by reducing or eliminating its emissions is usually the most effective and cost-effective approach to enhancing air quality.
Air cleaning and filtering
Air cleaning can reduce some indoor air pollutants. Most air cleaning approaches are designed to filter particulates but not gaseous pollutants. However, air-cleaning is rarely effective on its own and should be combined with either one of the above strategies.
There isn’t a one-for-all method to guarantee a good IAQ. Bear in mind that the right approach isn't always clear at the outset; therefore, it might be helpful to deploy more sensors to better understand the issue before investing time and resources in attempting to solve it.
gams Event Announcement
Would you like to know more about IAQ standards, best practices, and innovation solutions?
On October 21, gams Environmental Monitoring will organise an event themed "Creating a safe indoor environment during COVID and beyond". We have invited industry opinion leaders Sam Micheal from AtmosAir, Stanton Wang from RESET, Elma Ma from Pure-Sieving, Stefan Berder from gams to share their professional insights on achieving a wholesome indoor environment.
Join us to learn about IAQ and innovative solutions to create a safe working environment and interact with industry experts.
