|
Industrial Air Pollution & Sick
Building Syndrome
Did You Know?
The World Health Organization
reported that 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be
linked to symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
See Air Purifiers for
Industrial Pollution and SBS
In addition to being exposed to airborne pollutants
in the home, poor workplace air quality is also a problem. During
the 1970s, physicians noticed increasing numbers of patients
suffering from symptoms such as headaches, eye/nose irritation, odor
sensitivity, and other allergy-like reactions to unspecified
stimuli. After years of research, it was found that these patients
would experience these reactions while in buildings, but that these
symptoms would cease once patients left these buildings. Eventually,
this disorder became known as SBS, or Sick Building Syndrome.
SBS occurs when occupants of a building experience
health problems associated with time spent in that building. This is
usually the result of:
Outgassing of building materials and the use of
chemicals may also play important roles in the quality of air in the
workplace.
Though a specific illness may not be diagnosed, SBS
can cause fatigue, sensitivity to odors, headaches, coughing, dry
skin, and several other ailments. In turn, SBS may reduce worker
productivity and increase absenteeism.
In order to decrease the harmful effects of
pollutants in the workplace, ventilation rates and air distribution
is crucial in reducing indoor pollutant levels. Commercial air
purifiers can be a useful addition to control contaminants in the
air.
When choosing an
air purifier for commercial use, consumers should be aware of both
the main source of pollution and the square footage of the area
being purified.
Air purifiers with
HEPA filters and
ion generators are excellent at trapping particles such as
dust, while purifiers utilizing activated carbon can effectively
eliminate harmful gases. On the other hand, extremely high pollution
areas will benefit from ozone air purifiers, while microbiological
contaminants like viruses, bacteria, and mold can be eliminated by
air purifiers with UV lamps.
See
Industrial Air Purifiers
Return to the
Air Purifier Guide
|
