Polluted Air – Why Care?

Recent reports have highlighted the dangers of toxic or polluted air in indoor spaces, which can lead to a range of health issues including sickness, miscarriages, dementia, and even premature death. The Health Effects Institute has also found that even low levels of air pollution can have damaging consequences on human health.

A two-year study by medical journal The Lancet has revealed that 800,000 people die every year due to poor air quality in their workplaces. These findings underscore the need for immediate action to improve air quality, starting with the places where most people spend their time outside of the home – offices.

Unhealthy workforces can have serious implications for economies and societies. In the UK alone, sickness absence and health-related productivity losses cost businesses over £100bn annually. Moreover, a separate report from Harvard University indicates that people working in areas with pollutants and chemicals in the air are less productive, less focused, and work slower than those in settings with better air quality.

Managing occupational health is key to avoiding any unintended consequences. Employers must prioritize the well-being of their workforce by investing in measures that prevent respiratory illnesses, especially during the winter months. Air purification is an effective and easy first step in ensuring adequate air quality in workplaces. A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research also shows that more people are off sick from work in the UK than at any time since records began in the 1990s.

Toxic air in most workplaces can be difficult to identify until physical symptoms arise, by which time it is often too late. Therefore, companies should concentrate on the well-being of their workers in offices and prioritize air purification solutions to ensure the health and safety of employees. Hiring a government-certified air purification unit that removes 99.9% of harmful chemicals and pollutants in the air is an excellent starting point. Andrews Sykes’ air purification units are designed to block the transmission of diseases, infections, fumes, and other toxins. The units work by passing air through a prefilter, a carbon filter, and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which trap dirty particles inside.

Hiring an air purification unit that removes 99.9% of harmful chemicals and pollutants in the air is a good place to start. It is the ideal government-certified solution to allergens, virus transmission, smoke, and indoor pollution. Andrews Sykes’ air purification units block the transmission of diseases, infections, fumes, and other toxins. Air passes through a pre-filter, a carbon filter, and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, with dirty particles trapped and then neutralised.

With seasonal flu and other illnesses still lingering, air purification can play a very important role in reducing the number of staff absences – particularly at this time of year when sickness is naturally more prevalent.