Office air quality under investigation

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Office air quality under investigation

Environmental Data Interactive - UK*

http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=14674 & channel=0

Could poor air quality in the office be making workers ill? A new

programme is to be launched across Ireland to test the air quality

in public buildings and offices.

The Health Friendly Air Programme will be officially launched by

Environment Minister Gormley this week and aims to ensure

people have a healthy environment in which to work.

Research has shown that enhancing air quality can increase the

performance of office workers by 10% and indoor air can be up to

five times more polluted than outside air.

Specialist air monitoring and occupational health consultants will

visit buildings and take samples using equipment such as electronic

monitors, air flow visualisation techniques and air flow pumps.

Dr Bruce , executive chairman of Allergy Standards

Consulting, told the newspaper that poor ventilation can result in

increased levels of carbon dioxide which can lead to complaints

about headaches and other ailments.

" When you think about it, we are very concerned about the quality of

the food we eat and the water we drink, so why not the air we

breathe? " added Dr .

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than one in four

office buildings have air quality problems which can lead to

sickness and absenteeism, with over 14 million workdays lost in

Ireland every year due to non-appearance.