Office air quality, lower than outdoor air quality. Effective purification solutions

You don’t need the concrete results of specialized studies to realize that people spend a large part of their lives indoors. We spend nearly 60-90% of our time indoors (at home, at work, in stores, etc.), and we have very little contact with nature or the luxury of taking a breath of fresh air.

Considering that we spend an average of 40 hours per week at work, it is important to monitor air quality in the office and find purification solutions to maintain good health. The effects of indoor pollution should not be neglected or minimized because, over time, they can lead to the development of chronic conditions.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality can be 5 times lower than outdoor air quality. How is this result possible and what solutions can you use in the future to improve the air quality in your office, read on to find out.

Office Air Quality and Factors Affecting It

Poor air quality in the office leads to the following conditions: mental fatigue, migraines, lack of motivation, irritated eyes, mild cough, anxiety, nervousness, concentration problems, dizziness, itchy skin, and illnesses such as asthma and emphysema.

Indoor pollution in office spaces can originate from cigarette smoke, chemicals in cleaning products or carpets, air fresheners, formaldehyde emissions from furniture, mold, heating systems, air conditioners, and even computers and printers, according to eea.europa.eu. Added to these factors are outdoor pollutants that, unfortunately, we don't leave at the entrance of the building where we work, but rather bring inside.

Solutions for improving office air

There are several methods we can use to improve the quality of the air we breathe in the office space. Although they may seem like small steps at first, the change will be felt in both professional performance and health.

Air out the office Every time you have the opportunity and feel that the air inside needs to be refreshed. To avoid potential conflicts with colleagues (we know they sometimes arise in a team), find a middle ground with them, a possible internal regulation.

2. Avoid spraying scented sprays and to keep air fresheners or scented candles in your office. Even if they have an inviting scent and play a role in relaxing the atmosphere, these products affect the respiratory system because they contain various irritating compounds.

3. Decorate your desk with plants which improve air quality (dracaena, ficus, fern, pygmy palm, snake plant, aloe vera, and others). They take up little space, change the atmosphere with their cheerful colors, and are powerful at purifying the air and removing pollutants.

4. Use a dehumidifier to maintain inner balance. A high humidity level favors the appearance of mold and leads to bacterial infections, allergies, respiratory problems, decreased immunity, and even rheumatism.

5. Make sure the air conditioner filter is changed frequently. Don't keep the device open all the time and avoid standing within its range.

6. Inform the smokers that they should to smoke only outside the premises, further away from the windows or doors of the building.

Whenever you have the chance during your workday, step outside for some fresh air: to grab a snack from the store, to eat lunch in the small park near the office, to make a phone call, etc.

After a full day at the office and in traffic, you can return home fulfilled, in Greenfield Băneasa residential district, because you know that here you can have a healthy lifestyle and breathe clean air. Thanks to the nearly 900 hectares of forest, our neighborhood consistently records pollutant emission values up to 10 times lower than those in Bucharest.