The indoor air we breathe
Our homes have dramatically changed over the last 30-40 years. They have become more airtight and more polluted through poor ventilation. Poor ventilation has been associated with increased indoor allergens and pollutants and raised indoor humidity.
An average person spends about 90% of their time indoors. This includes time at home, in the car, at work or school. Buildings are generally more air tight with double brick walls, double glazed UPVC or wooden window frames, concrete floors, and low ceilings. We have successfully protected our homes and offices from the outdoor elements but all these factors contribute significantly to higher concentrations of harmful indoor pollutants that are invisible to the naked eye.
The resting adult breathes 10-20,000 litres of air daily and the lungs act as a sponge for the air we breathe and this air contains contaminants that the lungs have to deal with effectively. These contaminants are inhaled as invisible and frequently odourless chemical and physical compounds. These can exacerbate allergies and asthma, causing staff absenteeism and at least make you feel listless, impacting on productivity.
They include car exhaust fumes, seemingly benign household products such as glues, paints, plastics, cleaning products, gas cookers and heaters, and personal care products (hairspray, deodorants etc). We may notice a strong smell or suffer eye, nose and throat irritation or suffer from headaches or nausea. However a lot of the time there is no odour or noticeable physical reaction.