Oxygen & Sick Building Syndrome
Individuals spend approximately 90% of their time indoors
As we mentioned, outdoor air pollution is a global problem that has a major impact on our health. More than nine in 10 people around the world live in places where air quality levels exceed the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), with low- and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures. But did you know that some indoor air pollutants can be up to five times more concentrated than outdoor air pollutants? The way we cook, clean and live is polluting the air inside, and this is compounded by the fact that we spend up to 90% of our lives indoors.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, however no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. Indoor air pollution involves exposures to particulates, carbon oxides, and other pollutants carried by indoor air or dust.
As individuals spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors in close proximity to sources, indoor environments contribute significantly to personal exposures.
Knowing what causes poor indoor air quality and how to improve it is the first step in making your home a safer, more comfortable place to live. To learn more about improving your indoor air quality, check out resources in the video description down below.
Signs and symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Cough, chest pain, shortness of breath on mild exertion, edema, palpitations, nosebleeds, cancers, pregnancy problems and miscarriages. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis, Legionnaire's disease, humidifier fever, pneumonia and occupational asthma are also known to occur.
Long-term health problems can be quite serious. Sometimes years after being exposed, a person can suffer heart problems, respiratory sickness, and even cancer.
Children are particularly vulnerable to poor indoor air quality as their lungs are still developing. Their airways are smaller, so inflammation caused by pollution can cause them to narrow more easily than in older people. Pollution can also interact with allergens to cause asthma in children.
The following are some of the factors that might be primarily responsible for SBS
1. Chemical contaminants
From outdoor sources: Contaminants from outside like pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust, plumbing vents and building exhausts (bathrooms and kitchens) can enter the building through poorly located air intake vents, windows and other openings. Combustion byproducts can enter a building from a nearby garage. Radon, formaldehyde, asbestos, dust and lead paint can enter through poorly located air intake vents and other opening
From indoor sources: The most common contaminant of indoor air includes the volatile organic compounds (VOC). The main sources of VOC are adhesives, upholstery, carpeting, copy machines, manufactured wood products, pesticides, cleaning agents, etc. Environmental tobacco smoke, respirable particulate matter, combustion byproducts from stove, fireplace and unvented space heater also increase the chemical contamination. Research shows that some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects at high concentrations, and some are known carcinogens. Synthetic fragrances in personal care products or in cleaning and maintenance products also contribute to the contamination.
2. Biological contaminants
The biological contaminants include pollen, bacteria, viruses, fungus, molds, etc. These contaminants can breed in stagnant water that has accumulated in humidifiers, drain pipes and ducts or where water has collected on ceiling tiles, insulation, carpets and upholstery.
Biological contamination causes fever, chills, cough, chest tightness, muscle aches and allergic reactions. In offices with a high density of occupancy, airborne diseases can spread rapidly from one worker to another. Air-conditioning systems can recirculate pathogens and spread them throughout the building.
3. Inadequate ventilation
In 1970, oil embargo led building designers to make buildings more airtight, with less outdoor air ventilation, in order to improve energy efficiency. The ventilation was reduced to 5 cfm/person. This reduced ventilation rate was found to be inadequate to maintain the health and comfort of building occupants. Malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC systems) also increase the indoor air pollution. In order to have an acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) with a minimum energy consumption, The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers recently revised ventilation standards to a minimum outdoor air flow rate of 15 cfm/person to avoid the problems related to inadequate ventilation. The standards are 20 cfm/person in office spaces and 60 cfm/person in smoking lounges. Poor design and construction of buildings with more number of offices cramped in a building to increase the salable area also contribute to inadequate ventilation.
4. Electromagnetic radiation
Gadgets like microwaves, televisions and computers emit electromagnetic radiation, which ionizes the air. Extensive wiring without proper grounding also creates high magnetic fields, which have been linked to cancer.
Here are some more major indoor air pollutants and their sources
Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that is generated naturally in the soil and enters the house from the ground.
Tobacco smoke: Smoking is in a class by itself because its health consequences (even for non-smokers) are so well-documented and because it produces copious amounts of both harmful gases and particles. Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of lung cancer and it increases the risk of heart disease. It also contributes to developmental problems, lower respiratory tract infections, ear infections and more in children who are exposed.
Mold and mildew: It can be found when there is poorly maintained humidity levels, and wet sheetrock or other building materials. Molds and mildew can make worsen conditions such as asthma and allergies, and produce potentially toxic mycotoxins, otherwise known as fungus.
Formaldehyde: Comes from pressed wood products such as plywood, wall paneling, and particleboard, as well as furniture made from these products. It can also come from combustion sources, tobacco smoke, textiles and glues. Formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, severe allergic reactions, and it’s a probable cause of cancer.
Benzene: is found in plastics, pesticides, cleaning products and synthetic fibers can all harbor benzene.
Trichloroethylene: This toxin can be found in cleaning products, adhesives, rug cleaning solution and printing fluid.
Fragrance: Is hidden in from all kinds of household cleaning products as well as personal care products. Artificial fragrance derives from a combination of almost 200 different chemicals that may or may not have been tested for safety and do not have to be individually listed. Fragrance can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, and often contains potentially cancer-causing chemicals.
We spend 90% of our time indoors, and the air quality is 5x worse than during traffic jams! Let's advocate for fresh air in schools and offices
Organic Building Materials
The amount of energy used and pollution created from man-made construction materials is astounding. The number and amount of harmful chemicals used is growing all the time, leading to many people becoming allergic or getting sick around new carpets and a wide variety of other materials.
Organic materials such as wood, straw, bamboo, cellulose insulation, clay, natural paints and oils or waxes could be used instead to create low energy buildings that are solid, safe and better for the environment.
Organic materials are grown from seeds and absorb carbon dioxide while they grow. After harvesting, they sequester this greenhouse gas and do not release it into the atmosphere.
Organic building materials can breathe, absorbing and giving off moisture for a healthy indoor environment.
Just like we now associate organic foods with healthier eating, organic construction materials lead to a healthier building. With an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, organic buildings can lead the way.
Solutions
How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
Fortunately, indoor air pollution is much more manageable than the air outside your home. Here are some simple steps you can do to cut down on your exposure to air pollutants that could trigger adverse health effects:
Keep your environment clean. Cleaning regularly with a vacuum cleaner and wiping dusty surfaces with a damp cloth are good ways to keep your environment clean and free of allergens. If you’re allergic to dust mites, weekly washing of bedsheets, pillow cases and blankets are also necessary to keep levels of the allergen low.
Replace air polluting items with safer products, or if you can’t, reduce the amount and frequency of use. For instance, instead of using synthetic cleaning agents and fragrances, replace them with natural alternatives such as diluted essential oils. If you use herbicides or pesticides on your plants, look for natural pest control products that are less harmful and will biodegrade much more quickly such as neem oil.
Ventilate your indoor space, including the kitchen, attic and basement, and let fresh air circulates freely and frequently.
Use air purifying plants. Despite taking the measures above, air contaminants and allergens may still be introduced into your living environment by wind, breeze, pets, humans and equipments. That’s when the use of air purifying plants can be useful to reduce the levels of air pollutants in enclosed spaces. Not only does it improve air-cleaning efficiency it also brings more joy and boosts creativity!
Install a whole house water filtration system. A whole-house water filtration system doesn’t just improve the quality of your drinking water, it will also cut your exposure to chlorine gases and vapors of their by-products which may be released during shower and washing.
Keep humidity under control. Excessive moisture in the air encourages the growth of biological pollutants, like mold, mildew and fungus, in areas like basements and bathrooms that could trigger allergies.
Use a vacuum cleaner with an efficient filter. Using a vacuum cleaner that comes with a high-efficiency small particle filters has been shown to significantly reduce interior particulate pollution and subsequently, asthma and allergy symptoms.
Replace toxin-releasing furniture or interior deco materials if you’re refurbishing your home or office. While it is tempting to buy cheaper products to save costs, think of the long-term costs that you and other occupants may be paying ten years down the road.
Researcher Kamal Meattle shows how an arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
More green
You don't have to be an environmental psychologist to understand that plants look attractive. But dig a little deeper beneath their beauty and you'll discover the facts - the benefits of indoor plants go far beyond the aesthetic.
Research has shown that indoor plants significantly improve a whole range of aspects of our indoor environment. The benefits cover a spectrum from physically cleaner air to direct beneficial effects on psychological health, task performance, illness reduction and productivity.
Plants reduce all types of urban air pollution and clean the air from VOC (volatile organic compounds), which are particles that float through the air and can be toxic.
Some of the benefits of lower VOC levels:
45% reduction of headaches
32% less complaints of tiredness
37% reduction of dry throats
69% feels generally better
Rooms where perceived as bigger
Plants increase creativity
Creative ideas are sometimes hard to come by, especially when cooped up in an office all day. Fear no more, indoor plants, trees, and flowers, are here to save the day!
In a study of an office setting 15% more ideas where generated in rooms with plants opposed to rooms without or just with abstract sculptures.
The color green is usually associated with productivity, creativity and action. Being surrounded by natural green plants enables employees and co-workers to think more freely and enables them to feel like their surroundings are more than just the same old, stale, office they sit in every day from nine to five.
Instead, they will feel like the environment is completely new, more inviting, and open for creative thinking.
The impact of indoor plants on creativity is significant. In the workplace environment plants improve idea generation, creative performance and problem solving.
The calming influence of nature
Plants provide support and relaxation by providing a feeling of comfort, more confidence, more work enjoyment and lower stress levels.
Studies show that tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better and with greater accuracy (+12%), yielding a higher quality result. Moreover, enriching the environment with plants can lead to productivity improvements of over 15%, improve memory performance and attention span by 23%.
With plants negative emotions can hugely be reduced:
Anger -44%
Depression -58%
Fatigue -38%
Confusion -30%
Overall negativity -65%
Overall stress -50%
Anxiety -37%
Plants are really our friends!
What do you do improve indoor air quality? By tagging us with #theconsciouschallenge you can share your ideas!
Want to contribute to our Ecological Footprint Bible? Submit us your scientific articles! Mail us at info@theconsciouschallenge.org
Sources:
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-causes-sick-buildings-3157825
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796751/
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https://www.nature.com/articles/jes201374
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