It Doesn't Stop at Viruses

It's not limited to COVID-19. The average person inhales 3,000 gallons of indoor air every day. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors and nine hours per day in shared environments—spaces that are up to five times more polluted than outdoors.

What’s in the Air?

Odors

The presence of odors can reflect negatively on your facility. Odors from bathrooms, lunchrooms, stale air and more are primary complaint drivers for building managers.

Germs, Bacteria and other Viruses

Experts agree that the flu virus is mainly spread through airborne droplets. These droplets are made when people cough, sneeze or talk. Despite flu shots and hand sanitization, Americans still catch about one billion colds and 60 million flu cases annually.

Allergens

Approximately 20% of all people are impacted with allergies. Allergic reactions can be triggered by irritants such as seasonal pollen/ragweed, mold, pet dander and dust mites. These irritants also result in respiratory issues for those with asthma, which impacts 1 out of every 10 children.

Other Irritants

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful chemicals emitted from everyday products, sometimes even when they are stored. Paints, cleaning supplies, office equipment and more can contain VOCs. These VOCs can potentially trigger headaches, asthma and allergy attacks. Other airborne contaminants include:

  • Mold Spores
  • Pet Odors and Dander
  • Cigarette Smoke
  • Fine Air Pollution
  • Bacteria
  • Smog
Significance of Size

As important as it is to understand what’s in the air, it is also important to understand the size of particles and its impact on occupants. The human eye can only see 25 microns or larger. The microns under those sizes are the ones that provide a potentially greater risk as they are small enough to get into your lungs.

Bad Air Impacts the Bottom Line
  • $220 billion dollars evaporates from the economy every year in lost productivity from sick days
  • In fact, the EPA estimates that Sick Building Syndrome alone is responsible for $60 Billion in lost revenue
  • The average cost of sick days is $2,650 per employee per year
Get Protection by Cleaning the Air

Indoor air is full of potential contaminants ranging from viruses to VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) to common dust. Proper ventilation combined with purified air exchanges is the best way to reduce the presence of these contaminants, maintaining a healthy living and working condition.