It’s well-known that indoor air quality is one of the most critical factors for health and preventing sickness. Poor indoor air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses, with unfiltered air containing pollutants and airborne microbes as the leading culprits.
To understand the need for high-quality indoor air and the power of air filtration, you need to understand the major causes of poor air quality inside your building.
Pollutants
Our air is full of pollutants. Heavy industrial processing and manufacturing cause the release of harmful particulates and gases, which can quickly get inside buildings, especially in areas with a strong industrial presence.
When inhaled, these particulates can cause respiratory issues, particularly in those vulnerable to breathing problems.
Filtering your air indoors can vastly reduce the number of particulates in the air and improve air quality.
Irritants
With nowhere to go but continual circulation, indoor air can be home to many common irritants. These can be anything, but most commonly include pollen, animal fur and dander, and chemicals. Whilst they may not be significantly dangerous to your health, these irritants in the air can cause uncomfortable symptoms, which could be avoided with proper air filtration.
At certain times of the year, irritants in the air are more prevalent. A standout example is the summer months when pollen is carried in the air and causes the common allergy, hay fever.
Poor indoor air quality is likely to result, at least partially, from the presence of irritants and allergens.
Bacteria and viruses
Airborne microbes have been the subject of much scrutiny recently. It’s no secret that airborne bacteria and viruses are responsible for myriad illnesses, from the common cold to more severe conditions. These illnesses cause problems for employers and staff, including sickness, lost hours and reduced productivity.
Microbes in the air can be very hard to detect, so the best defence against them is to ensure a continual flow of air. Bringing in the air from outside can help but is not always the best solution. Air filtration helps to remove bacteria and viruses from indoor air without the difficulties that arise from an open window!
Outside air
We know that introducing clean, fresh air from outside is a great way to improve indoor air quality. However, during certain times of the year, this can do more harm than good.
In the winter, when temperatures are at their lowest, letting in cold air from outside – while refreshing – can worsen respiratory issues and cause vulnerable people discomfort. There may also be times when the weather is particularly bad, and when opening windows and doors isn’t possible, so this is not a catch-all solution.
Conversely, opening windows when temperatures are too high can let in hot air and cause extreme difficulties. The summer also sees an increase in insects and allergens that can cause a reaction in certain people.
Banish poor air quality
Indoor air quality can significantly influence the well-being and health of those living or working in that environment. There are a number of factors that can cause poor air quality, but these can easily go unnoticed. The things that reduce air quality are often not visible, so it can be hard to do something about them.
Air filtration helps remove almost all causes of poor air quality, including those that can have an adverse effect on human health, like allergens and pollutants.
Filtrex provides a comprehensive range of air filtration systems and maintenance services tailored to your needs and those of your site. Please get in touch to find out more.
