Is indoor air pollution up to five times more dangerous than the outdoors?

3 min. reading - published on April 28, 2022

Did you know that an average person spends about 90% of their time indoors? Yet we do not care about indoor air quality that much. Moreover, indoor air quality is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, which has a direct impact on our health, well-being, productivity, and quality of life. This is why indoor air quality (IAQ) is critical to our health. 

According to World Health Organisation, air pollution is the most significant environmental threat to human health. Nine out of 10 people breathe polluted air, causing more than 7 million premature deaths yearly due to the combined effects of outdoor and household air pollution. Out of 7 million, 4 million deaths are caused by indoor air pollution.  


Indoor air quality (IAQ)
 

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. It is a significant concern to businesses and workers because it can impact the health, comfort, well-being, and productivity of the building occupants. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can lead to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, difficulty in breathing, and other lung problems. However there are many sources of indoor air pollution in industrial and commercial buildings, including outdoor pollution but it depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits, how hazardous those emissions are, and the ability of the ventilation system to remove the contaminant.  

In recent decades, indoor air quality (IAQ) has also been significantly affected by the dramatic increase in airtightness and lack of ventilation in modern buildings. While making buildings more airtight will indeed make them more energy-efficient, it will also make it much more difficult for poor-quality air to escape. This poor quality air can have a negative impact on health as well as on the economy and on the environment.

Air quality & pandemics 

The spread of Covid brought the world's attention to the impact of the indoor environment and the spread of pathogens. Over the course of the last decade, researchers have published numerous studies on the relationship between aerosols and the spread of pathogens. 

  • The environmental spread of SARS-CoV-2 is possible through tiny aerosol droplets. 
  • Air pollution has been linked with increased COVID-19 mortality 
  • COVID-19 resulted in a new baseline of air quality to be used in air pollution mitigation strategies 

A healthy indoor environment plays a significant role in reducing the risk of infection. By continually refreshing the air, the CO2 content decreases considerably, and so does the concentration of aerosols.  


Health, comfort, and energy efficiency: A delicate balance to find
 

Climate change may worsen the indoor environmental problems, but to provide a comfortable indoor environment, there is a huge increase in air conditioning solutions that lead to higher energy consumption. To meet these energy demands, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil is required, which adds up to air pollution and generates enormous amounts of greenhouse gases that eventually contribute to climate change. Hence, it is difficult to find a balance in providing a healthy and comfortable indoor environment with lower energy consumption. To achieve that balance, there is a need for sustainable, innovative solutions that can help in finding that balance without having detrimental effects on the climate. 


Oxycom’s climate control: A sustainable solution for a healthy indoor environment
 

To provide a healthy indoor working environment sustainably, Oxycom's natural air conditioning solutions of indirect/direct adiabatic evaporation ensure healthy and comfortable cooling with maximal ventilation to bring temperatures to a pleasant level. With our innovative climate control, you can stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and ventilate with fresh, filtered air all year round. On top of that, systems using this technology are up to 90% more efficient than traditional systems. So, employees are always assured of optimal indoor air quality at low energy and investment costs. 

We are happy to help you create a safe, healthy, and comfortable work environment. 

Challenges & Opportunities mock up - optimizedDownload our whitepaper “Challenges and Opportunities for Energy-Efficient Climate Control” and discover how to create a comfortable and sustainable indoor climate within your production facility.

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For more information on our innovative evaporative cooling and ventilation technique, check out our webpage "What is evaporative cooling".

If you would like to know more about our two-stage evaporative technology solution, please get in touch with us at +31 572 349 400, or fill in the form directly with your question:


 

Picture of Alka Khenchi
published on April 28, 2022

Alka Khenchi

"Contributing to the mission of Oxycom is so fulfilling because it provides me an opportunity to work towards a clean and sustainable future for all."

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