4 Whitepaper: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality for Office Buildings Importance of Indoor Air Quality Typical sources of air pollutants 1 Source: Sarigiannis, D.A. (2013), ‘Combined or multiple exposure to health stressors in indoor built environments’, World Health Organization. 2 Source: U.S. EPA (2019), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | Available at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality, United Status Environmental Protection Agency. Europeans spend more than 90% of their time indoors1. Indoor air is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air2. Millions of European citizens spend more than 90 % of their time indoors, with two thirds of this time spent in their homes and the remaining at workplaces, schools, or public spaces1 (Sarigiannis, 2013). Despite increased awareness and ongoing attempts to improve the quality of indoor environments over the years, a range of health risks continues to exist, including indoor air pollution, humidity, noise, mold growth or inadequate indoor temperature. Many of these risks can be linked either directly or indirectly to the quality of the building, therefore, risking the quality of health of those who inhabit in these buildings. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air within and around buildings and structures that affects the health and comfort of occupants2 (U.S. EPA, 2019). Research shows that the air within the walls of our homes, schools, offices, and factories can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air2 (U.S. EPA, 2019). This means that those responsible for designing, building and maintaining our buildings have an important role to play when it comes to the health of the people in it. The importance of IAQ is being increasingly acknowledged and extensively studied. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the importance of IAQ and the potential danger of pollutants, thus IAQ has become one of the main determinants of our overall health. While air pollution can originate from natural phenomena, the contribution from human activities far exceeds the natural sources. The air pollutants that are considered to have the strongest evidence of adverse health effects are Particulate Matter (PM), Ozone (O₃), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)2 (U.S. EPA, 2019). Outdoor ambient air pollutants can penetrate indoor spaces through natural or mechanical ventilation routes, and also via infiltration through building fabric. But there are also air pollutants that are produced inside a building environment. These include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are given off by painted wall coverings, carpets, furnishings or appliances. Also emissions from office equipment play a role as well as occupants themselves, who breathe out CO₂ and by that can spread colds and viruses2 (U.S. EPA, 2019). Industrial Processes Cooking Appliances Agricultural Activity Building Materials Waste Treatment Human Contamination Transport Movement Household Products Construction Work Office Equipment Outdoor Indoor
