Office air can be a challenge to keep clean. This is true because many of the pollutants are invisible to the human eye. Yet they can cause odors, a musty smell, and even the smell of chemicals from copiers and other products like glue, ink, magic marker and more. Here are 5 of the most common airborne pollutants found in office air, and a solution to the problem that will work. Old Carpet- Who doesn't love a soft carpet underfoot, particularly in an office where you stay on the go. Well people aren't the only ones who love carpet-mold and mildew spores do too. These spores are ever present both indoors and out, but never really become a problem until they find moisture. Carpet that has been around for a while has probably seen a lot of action. Moisture from a variety of sources has probably caused mold and mildew to take up residence. The spores are then continually sent airborne when walking, rolling chairs, or even vacuuming takes place. Normal daily activity in the office causes even more spores to be sent airborne. For those who are allergic and asthmatic, this is enough to send their bodies into overdrive with sneezing, watery eyes, and runny noses. Those who do not suffer with respiratory problems may simply notice an unpleasant smell that is peculiar to the office each morning as they enter. New Carpet- So maybe your boss, or maybe you're the boss, ripped out the old stuff and installed new wall-to-wall. And wow, does it look gorgeous. It's just that now you may be finding it hard to breathe because of the overpowering "new carpet smell" that just won't quit. The odor is often a result of adhesives used to glue the carpet in place, as well as the formaldehyde that is sometimes used in the manufacturing process of the carpet and padding. There are organic carpets available, but those don't off-gas the strong odor that you may now be experiencing in your office. Paint- If you've been lucky enough to have your office freshened with a coat or two of paint there's good news and bad. The good news is that it probably looks great; the bad news is that unless the paint used was low in volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) the paint fumes could linger for months. For people who are chemically sensitive to volatile organic chemicals, the smell remains a source of irritation presenting itself through physical symptoms such as burning eyes and throat, congestion, headaches, and sometimes nausea throughout the day-every day. And now even though the office looks great, it doesn't feel very good to be there. New Furniture- If your office has just been redecorated with draperies, cabinets, chairs, and/or sofas, be aware that many of the chemicals used to make fabrics stain resistant, and chemicals frequently used in pressed wood furniture can send fumes into the air for many months. Those who suffer from Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS) find it hard to tolerate the odor to the point of feeling sick. Office Supplies- Every well-stocked office probably contains some adhesive, glues, magic markers, copier with toner, paper, and the lingering smell of the cleaning solutions used to clean when the office is not in use. A fair number of these products emit volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). These airborne pollutants can cause your office air to be hard to breathe, and can result in greater absences and reduced productivity from those who work there. Maybe you can't change corporate policy on air quality, but you can control the air around you by filtering the odors, and fumes with a portable high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier. It can go wherever you go, and that means that fresh, clean, healthy air is always as close as the nearest electrical outlet.
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