Portable Air Conditioner Help (PortableACHelp.com) is dedicated to providing consumers with up to date detailed information on the usefulness, effectiveness, and benefits of portable air conditioners and mini-split air conditioners. 

Toxicity in Standard Office Environments Affect Indoor Air Quality

Toxins are everywhere in the office: Copiers emit gases and ozone, furniture and computers out-gas chemicals, and printers release tiny particles into the air that can make their way into lungs of working professionals.

Ray Copes, the health director for BC Centre for Disease Control, says that, although levels of carcinogens and toxins generally aren’t high enough to produce levels of cancer, they do exist. In fact, they exist in almost every indoor environment. According to Copes, however, stress and anxiety in the work place can cause more health concerns than the toxins in the office.

Regardless of work stress, office indoor air quality is still important. Copes found that about 25% of U.S. office workers surveyed said that they experienced poor indoor air qualities in their office environments. He also found that about 20% felt that their work suffered as a result of poor indoor air quality.

According to Karen Bartlett, an associate professor of environmental health at the University of British Columbia, says that poor indoor air quality can produce headaches and other problems that can affect work performance. Although some individuals are naturally more sensitive to indoor chemicals than others, general exposure to toxins in the workplace does not create sensitivities.

Although long-term exposure to carpets, poorly-vacuumed areas, and glue don’t cause major problems, according to Bartlett, the fewer items in the environment that are off-gassing chemicals, the better the indoor air quality and better people will feel. This means that they will experience fewer headaches, feel healthier, and therefore perform their duties better.

According to Copes, exposure to toxins was worse back in the 1980s. During this time, individuals were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke and were therefore in much more danger of developing health problems. Much of the concern with office chemicals today is about long-term exposure but does not compare to direct secondhand smoke.

The majority of workers spend 90% of their time indoors, under almost constant exposure to toxins. Even though many of these toxins will not cause permanent health effects, individuals are concerned about decreasing their exposure by changing the environments in which they work and live.

Much of what is in office and home environments can be labeled toxic, but the term is relative. Almost any chemical, in large doses, can be considered toxic, and much of what is in indoor environments doesn’t expose us to toxic doses of any chemical. However, many people feel that, despite the lack of risk, they would like to reduce their exposure to any chemical or toxin.

Scientists have already found connections between outdoor air quality and health risks and find that, by reducing outdoor pollutants, they can reduce these risks. Although medical communities have not yet found a correlation between reducing exposure and health benefits, people still want to reduce toxins in the workplace and improve indoor air quality.

There is little clear link between poor indoor air quality and long-term health risks, but people aren’t willing to wait. Copes suggest that individuals use their senses to determine the toxicity of the indoor air. He suggests that people use their nose. By smelling an area, individuals can determine if the indoor air quality is high or low.

If a room smells like mold or mildew or feels and smells stuffy, then something is wrong. Bartlett suggests checking the ventilation if any of these smells are present. Cleaning the ventilation system and making sure intake vents are clean and clear of contaminants are two ways to help increase indoor air quality. There are management considerations, however, if the company wants to save money by shutting off ventilation on the weekends but it results in gases and toxins getting locked in the building.

Copes says that buildings with inadequate ventilation have more workers with health issues related to respiratory problems. Bartlett agrees that improving indoor air quality is important and using paints and carpets with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can help improve the indoor environment. She does say, however, that improving Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems can be more important than changing carpets.

Although individuals may not smell toxins, they can still cause problems. According to WorkSafeBC regional director Al Johnson, his indoor air quality regulation professionals commonly visit sites in response to complaints of upper respiratory problems, coughing, lethargy, headaches, and sore eyes.

In order to ensure better indoor air quality, individuals can focus on a few basic items:

    • Cleaning Products – According to Copes, custodians and janitors exposed to high levels of some types of cleaning products experience stronger cases of asthma.
    • Radon – Basements and rooms under ground level are at risk for this natural radioactive gas. Radon is second only to tobacco as a leading cause of lung cancer.
    • Photocopiers – These machines emit low levels of ozone that can cause dizziness, fatigue, and respiratory problems.
    • Light – Natural light increases productivity and reduces stress. If actual natural light is not available, use full-spectrum bulbs.
    • Water and moldy food can also be causes for poor indoor air quality. Water leaks can cause bacteria and mold to grow and old food introduces fungus and spores into the workplace.

Resource Article: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=7ad782d5-ca63-4878-bdcd-d4674f20faa1