Common Problems Due to Poor Indoor Air Quality

Why is indoor air quality (IAQ) important in production facilities? How will a poor IAQ affect the production process?

People normally spend 90 percent of their time indoors, whether at home or at work. This is why we all must have access to clean, breathable air. This is why IAQ is as important as making sure all employees are present and productive at work.

Poor air quality often leads to different health issues such as headache, dizziness, tiredness, sneezing, difficulty breathing, and sinus. It can also lead to irritation of the eyes, skin, throat, and nose. The respiratory system can suffer from complications if a person is constantly breathing contaminated air.

People normally notice these symptoms after spending several hours at work and the only form of relief is either to put a mask on or leave the workplace.

Major Indoor Pollutant

Air contamination can be caused by several things. Know what causes them so you can find ways to remove these contaminants in your facility.

Biological Contaminants

It can originate from either inside or outside the building. Fungi, molds, bacteria, and microbes breed in damp areas, in the condensate pan of a condenser, or anywhere with stagnant water. Insects like dust mites that live in floor carpets or on office chair cushions, and cockroaches hidden behind walls or in storage rooms are another source of pollutants. Added to the list are dust and pollen which are abundant in spring.

Combustion By-Products

Any production process that includes the burning of fuels like oil, kerosene, gas, coal, and wood creates by-products that are toxic and harmful. Furnaces, tobacco smoke, perfume, and body odors from building occupants creates carbon dioxide.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Materials such as plywood particle board have VOCs. This chemical is also found in furniture, drape, and carpets. Even the array of cleaning agents and disinfectants found in offices and commercial buildings, paints used on the walls and ceilings, and lacquers and varnishes on the wood furnishings also have this chemical.

Here are other sources of pollutants:

Asbestos – Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance it has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Read more asbestos contamination from https://www.epa.gov/.

Radon – It is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. Radon is a colorless chemically-unreactive inert gas. You cannot see, smell or taste it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon. – https://www.radon.com/radon_facts/

Additional Triggers to Air Contamination

An increase in the number of building occupants can contribute to the decrease in indoor air quality. With more people staying indoors over a certain period of time, there is more CO2 build-up. If it’s paired up with a poorly maintained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, more contaminated particles are circulated around, instead of a properly filtered air.

Commercial air filtration systems work like a giant strainer that traps unwanted particles floating around then collects and segregates them from proper disposal. For facilities with huge workstations and heavy machinery, industrial air filters are a necessity.

For more information on air filtration, visit https://www.arrowindustrialairfiltration.com/.

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