According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is typically two-to-five times as polluted as outdoor air and occasionally can exceed 100 times that of outdoor air levels. Considering we spend approximately 90 percent of our lives indoors, that can have negative health effects. Poor air quality can cause headaches, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Continued exposure to poor air quality can lead to asthma, decreased lung function, heart disease, and cancer.

What is polluting our indoor air?

Volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the air. Common examples include formaldehyde and acetone. Sources of VOCs include carpeting, composite wood products (e.g. plywood and particleboard), paints, cleaning products, and cosmetics. VOCs slowly release from these products, a process often referred to as “off-gassing.”

The best way to reduce VOCs in your indoor air is to:

  • When possible, remove products that contain VOCs from occupied areas of your workplace. Make sure paints and cleaning products are stored in well-ventilated areas, away from those same occupied areas.
  • Purchase low VOC paints and products. Choose products that are fragrance-free and implement fragrance-free policies for your workplace.
  • Maximize the amount of outdoor air coming into the workplace by opening windows, using fans, or using the ventilation system at your workplace. This helps reduce the amount of VOCs indoors from products you can’t remove.

Mold

Too much indoor moisture can lead to mold, which can cause allergy-like symptoms among your workers and also produce unpleasant odors. Keep your workplace dry and humidity levels as low as comfortable. Fix leaks quickly and perform regular inspections where leaks and moisture may occur such as around plumbing, near roof drains, and along windows. Also, look for dampness and mold in carpeting, drywall, and drop-ceiling tiles.

Porous materials with visible mold growth should be replaced. Nonporous materials can be scrubbed clean with soap and water. If the mold growth is extensive, or is in your ventilation system, you should contact a professional.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of combustion—anywhere you have equipment fueled by natural gas, gasoline/diesel, wood, or propane you have the potential for exposure. CO is colorless, odorless, and toxic. It displaces oxygen in the blood, causing flu-like symptoms. If the early warning signs of CO poisoning are missed, death can occur.

CO poisoning can be easily prevented. The EPA recommends that you install CO alarms about five feet above the floor or on the ceiling of occupied spaces. Maintain fuel-burning appliances and service them regularly to ensure they are leak-free. Never bring barbeques or fire rings indoors for cooking or heating purposes, even if your power goes out.

Ventilation

Clean indoor air is important to maintain the health, comfort, and productivity of your employees. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is useful for maintaining good indoor air quality. HVAC systems control the air temperature, filter out particulate contaminants (including viruses like those causing COVID-19 or the flu), and replace the indoor air with fresh air from outdoors. To ensure your HVAC system is operating efficiently, make sure to service it on a regular basis according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Maintaining good indoor air quality is important in maintaining a healthy workplace. Keep your employees safe by choosing products without VOCs, quickly fix leaks, and maintain equipment. These steps can help improve the quality of air your employees breathe indoors.