Various pollutants and toxins surround us daily; thus, increasing our susceptibility for illnesses. Most people are aware of the risks of outdoor air pollutants from car exhaust, city smog, and factory waste. However, we often underestimate the toxins that are found inside our homes and the buildings we work in on a daily basis. The sources of indoor air pollutants are numerous; some examples include gas appliances, building materials (i.e., damaged or deteriorated insulation), cleaning agents, dry cleaned clothing, cigarettes, and various consumer productsmany of which are only partially controlled by federal, state, or local laws. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the air found in the largest and most industrialized cities is cleaner than that found in the typical home. With the average person spending 90% or more of their time indoors surrounded by indoor air pollutants, we are increasingly susceptible to viruses, bacteria, molds, and fungi resulting in illness or allergy. Poor air quality negatively affects our health, productivity, and performance. Health Our health is something that many of us take for granted. However, indoor air quality can drastically affect our well-being. Because the quality of air can be diminished from a variety of sources, the affects are often difficult to pin-point and can take on characteristics of other illnesses. Short-term effects of indoor air pollutants include: lethargy, depression, migraines, dizziness, tension, aches and pains, and numerous other complaints. On the other hand, indoor air quality can also be much more devastating resulting in respiratory disease, cancer, and even death in the case of high levels of pollutants such as carbon monoxide. Federal scientists and those at the EPA have indicated that indoor air pollution is one of the most important problems in the United States. Indoor air quality has been a major concern for some time. In 1987, the EPA ranked indoor air pollution fourth in cancer risk among the top 13 environmental problems analyzed. Productivity and Performance According to the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark, indoor air pollutants decrease productivity and performance by 6-9%. In addition, it is reported that people feel dissatisfied more often when air pollution is high. With significant negative effects such as this, it is important for organizations to implement measures that would help combat the problems associated with indoor air pollutants. As discussed above, indoor air pollution has a significant impact on our health, productivity, and performance. In an effort to save a significant amount of money that would be spent on associated health care costs, lost productivity, legal costs, and human welfare impacts, it is important to address ways to purify the air indoors. Although increasing the amount of outdoor air flow helps in some situations, it is more energy efficient to eliminate the sources of pollution through the use of industrial and home air purifiers. Ultraviolet air purification and negative air ionization have been proven to reduce allergies, illness, depression, as well as a variety of other symptoms caused by indoor air pollution. The air around us is crucial to our well-being and quality of life, and therefore needs to be addressed.
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