English
We breathe 20,000 times a day of which about 18,000 are indoors!We spend over 90% of our time indoors. We don’t think about what we’re breathing in, and how that air might affect our bodies. Until it is too late! There is strong evidence that characteristics of buildings and indoor ...
We breathe 20,000 times a day of which about 18,000 are indoors!
We spend over 90% of our time indoors. We don’t think about what we’re breathing in, and how that air might affect our bodies. Until it is too late! There is strong evidence that characteristics of buildings and indoor climate significantly influence rates of respiratory disease, allergy, and asthma symptoms, sick building symptoms, and worker performance.
Unless we have a problem, we don’t think about what we’re breathing in, and how that air might affect our bodies.
• Air Indoors is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoors (EPA)
• Air Quality is the single biggest environmental hazard in the world (WHO)
• 72% of toxic chemicals are indoors (UL)
• More than 50% of our schools have problems linked to indoor air quality.
• 213 million work days lost in the US only due to poor indoor air quality (ASHRAE)
• 7% of the American population suffers from Asthma. 5% in the UK. Canada and Australia 14-15%. It has risen each year since the ‘70’s.
• An average family produces 10-12 liters of moisture per day.
• An average household produces 30 kilos of dust and dirt per year. (dust mites, allergens, fungi and bacteria)
• Studies show that a healthy indoor climate significantly increases productivity by 10-20%
• A healthy indoor climate reduces illness and allergies and therefore reduces sick days significantly
Indoor Air Quality and Health
The studies found that as good indoor air quality, appropriate ventilation with clean fresh air reduces infections and chronic lung diseases. In contrast, Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, respiratory diseases, chronic diseases, allergies, and even stroke other complications are more common there is immediate drowsiness, dizziness, headache, and other phenomena.
Air Toxins And What It Does To Your Health
CARBON DIOXIDE accumulation inside the home is normally related directly to the number of occupants. Increasing carbon dioxide levels cause decreasing oxygen levels in the body, hampering the flow of oxygen to the brain. It makes you sleepy, lazy, and low in energy.
CARBON MONOXIDE is an odorless, colorless, and toxic gas. Since CO is impossible to see, taste or smell, it can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. CO causes harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body’s organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, CO can cause death.
PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5 are fine dust particles or droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in width. These are small enough that the body cannot filter them when inhaled and thus enter our lungs and are absorbed into the blood causing adverse health effects. Short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure is associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. While most people can smell high levels of some VOCs, other VOCs have no odor. VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea. They may also to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some are suspected or known to cause cancer and asthma.
OZONE O3 is not emitted directly into the air but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma. Inhaling fairly low amounts of ozone can still result in signs and symptoms such as coughing, congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain in otherwise healthy people. People with already existing asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and emphysema may find their conditions worsen while inhaling ozone.
