Health and indoor spaces. The truth

One is inclined to think that alarms about the importance of a healthy indoor environment are excessive and perhaps suggested by those who have an interest in selling sanitation solutions and tools. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Several scientific studies have now demonstrated the correlation between the excessive presence of certain pollutants (CO2, VOC, PM) in closed spaces and the recurrence of certain respiratory and other pathologies. In the last decade, various international agencies have continuously updated guidelines and numerical standards on air quality in order to meet the requirements for its management.

 A very important study, which Kerberos allows you to download for free, first provides a systematic review of existing air quality guidelines and standards implemented by various agencies, which include the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); the World Health Organisation (WHO); the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and others. From theory to practice, the study provides an overview of existing air quality sensor technologies and analyses their technical specifications. Building-associated diseases not only cause symptoms, but can also cause enormous economic loss. In the US, SBS affects 10 to 25 million people and causes an estimated loss of $82 to 104 billion each year due to lost productivity. The US EPA has estimated an annual direct medical expenditure of $140 billion related to IAQ problems. SBS has become a widely studied topic in recent years; the following health manifestations have been identified by medical studies: anxiety, depression, environmental discomfort and work strain (psychological symptoms); asthma, allergies, malaise, headaches, dry throat, cough, eye problems, rhinitis, wheezing, dry skin and eye pain. Klas et al found that BSS is related to temperature, air intake, building humidity, exposure to static electricity, indoor smoke, noise and the age of the building. In addition, the level of physical response is related to age, duration of work, asthma symptoms and psychological states.

Comfort parameters

The indoor thermal comfort criteria were recommended by the ASHRAE 55-2017 standard, which specifies an indoor operating temperature between 20.3 ?C and 23.9 ?C in winter, and between 23.9 ?C and 26.9 ?C in summer. Similarly, the US EPA's recommended indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 60% in order to reduce mould growth.

The presence of indoor pollutants directly affects human health.

Indoor air pollutants can include O3, CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, particulate matter (PM) and TVOC, which can cause fatigue, acute respiratory infections (ARI), COPD and lung cancer.

It is therefore essential to ensure healthy working and social environments, and to achieve this goal it is very useful to equip oneself with sensors for the detection of pollutants.

Kerberos has been at the forefront of environmental health for many years.

For free advice on these issues, write to sales@kerberos.energy.

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To download the University of Florida study on the effect of indoor pollutants on health click here.