When we inhale AIR, it becomes the BREATH for us, and that is the prime source that either can allow us to live a healthier life or not? It’s little in a poetic form to begin with but I am sure we all agree to this in a very logical manner.
We definitely need the air to be fresh and pure. Are you aware that a normal person breathes in approximately 650 KG of air every day?
In this blog I will focus on the awareness on Indoor air quality and some relevant insights.
So when we are spending more than 70-80% of our times in our respective homes and the workplaces which generally have the centralised air conditions or closed all the times with not having an appropriate kind of ventilations, what is happening to our health while inhaling that circulated air in the premises which has become the source of our breath?
Combustion appliances, Chemical products, Office Equipment Our activities like cleaning, cooking, and smoking contribute a lot towards the air pollutants and thus makes us unwell dragging to many illnesses and the diseases.
Not only indoors, the pollution outside can get into the indoor environment as well. Indeed, in some cases, indoor air can be several times more polluted than the ambient air, Poor indoor air quality can cause a lot of negative impacts to our health According to The US Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is now considered one of top environmental dangers to the public Nowadays, more and more children and the elderly are suffering from asthma, allergies, heart diseases, and even lung cancer.
Thus, it is utmost important to think and act on the solutions for our Indoor Air Quality – IAQ.
Definition of IAQ: IAQ is the quality of the air inside buildings as represented by presence of air pollutants and thermal conditions that affect our health and comfort. According to ASHRAE Standard 62.1, an acceptable IAQ is about the indoor air, in which there are no known contaminants at harmful concentration as determined by cognizant authorities, while a substantial majority – say 80% or more of the people exposed – do not express dissatisfaction.
It’s a very general thought that our home or office is very clean, as visually it’s so, but have you ever thought of the olfactory (respiratory) system which signals our brain that there is a bad odour or a pungent odour? Now that’s precisely I meant here, “NO” we are under illusions many a times by ignoring this fact of the odour and still think that we have a clean and a healthy environment, but do you know that indoor air contaminants are basically everywhere? From building construction materials, painting or coatings on walls, ceilings, gas stoves in kitchens, and even your personal care products contain contaminants that can be harmful in an indoor environment.
From studies and testimonies, it has been proven that the indoor air can be several times more polluted than outdoor air.
Examples of indoor air contaminants are Radon, Indoor aerosol, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – Formaldehyde, which is commonly found in furniture, Tetrachloroethylene, which is commonly used in laundry. Another kind of VOCs, semi-VOCs, has a lower volatility.
Ozone it is an indoor contaminant that is released from printers and photocopiers. Since Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent, it can react with the organic materials that make up our body and cause damages in our lungs once inhaled, and similarly Combustion related to indoor pollutants, such as Carbon monoxide and Nitrogen dioxide, Bioaerosols, and Asbestos.
To improve indoor air quality, there are different measurement, detection, and purification technologies -the technologies that facility management professionals and individuals have to take care of for sure. For general public, a better ventilation, use of air cleaners, and isolating potential sources of indoor contaminants are always useful to maintain an acceptable indoor air quality.
Our right to remain healthier can be managed, provided we acknowledge the errors and work upon them.
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