Workplace Environments

Indoor air pollution is often more dangerous to human health than outdoor pollution. This is because bad air is trapped within the building, where more concentrated pollutant exposure is generally found than outdoors. Indoor air quality in the workplace affects the health, comfort, wellbeing and productivity of all building occupants. Many of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors during the day and much of that time is working in an office. Studies by USEPA and others confirm that indoor environments sometimes have levels of pollutants that are actually higher than levels found outside.

The sources of indoor pollutants can come from poorly designed buildings, a building’s ventilation system design, operation and maintenance, building materials, finishes, textiles, furnishings, consumer products, occupant activities, cleaning products and processes, dust, pesticide applications, and microbial contamination. People typically do not have control over their office indoor environments as they do in their homes.

The possible health impacts are cancer, sensory, respiratory irritation or infection, gastrointestinal irritation, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, allergy, asthma attacks. A number of well-identified illnesses, such as Legionnaire’s disease, asthmas, humidifier fever, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis have been tracked to specific building problems. Most of these building-related illnesses can be treated, but some do require prolonged recovery time after leaving the building.

To improve the indoor air quality in your office, try the following:

 Work with building management to ensure that all parts of the building and your office space are receiving optimal service from the HVAC system.

 Make sure air supply vents and return grilles are not blocked by furniture or other potential sources (i.e, files, books, papers).

 Make sure office equipment, such as copiers, printers, and fax machines, are adequately vented.

 Place computers and other heat-producing equipment away from HVAC sensors.

 Avoid the use of common office products, such as solvents, adhesives, cleaners and pesticides that can give off pollutants and odors.

 Before renovating your office space work with the building management and contractors to identify the best ways of minimize exposure to pollutants.

 Purchase only building materials, finishes, furnishings, and cleaning products that emit low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

 Work with your building management to make certain only necessary and appropriate pest control practices and non-chemical compounds are used.

 Comply with the office and building smoking policy.

 Dispose of garbage promptly and store food properly.

 Plan your next new, renovation or remodeling office project with a professional interior designer and/or architect, particularly one that is a LEED-certified professional. Even if the renovation will not meet LEED standards, a LEED-certified professional can recommend strategies to improve indoor air.

Home Environments

Indoor air pollution is a problem in your homes, too. Improving indoor air quality requires a systems approach. Here are some tips you can use at home.

The USEPA has responded to consumer demand for healthier homes by developing the comprehensive Indoor airPLUS label for new homes as a sister program to its Energy Star for Homes program.

To attain the Indoor airPLUS label, your builder must first qualify the sources of indoor air pollution by choosing the least hazardous products that are effective for the project. Using low or no-VOC paints to reduce harmful emissions as a sole effort in addressing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is not sufficient. In conjunction, the floor sheathing and carpet selections must be included. Specify only materials that minimize the risk of moisture damage and offer reduced levels of harmful chemical content.

Do not install a high quality, ultralow-VOC carpet over a low quality, potentially high-off-gassing pad. It is extremely important to ventilate a newly finished interior prior to occupancy, and to continue ventilating for at least several months afterwards.

Lynn Hoffman, IIDA, NCIDQ, RID, LEED®-AP ID+C has over 20 years of experience producing commercial, hospitality, and luxury residential environments. Lynn is the Founder of Lynn Hoffman Design, LLC, a full-service green and sustainable interior and universal design firm dedicated to elevating eco-conscious design to new levels of luxury and sophistication and that great interiors are inherently sustainable and healthy. Lynn Hoffman Design provides innovative, customized design solutions that meet the highest standards of efficiency, quality, and elegance. Website: www.lynnhoffmandesign.com