Working in an office? It could expose you to harmful chemicals

Office workers are exposed to PFCs
and other indoor air pollutants.

The air in offices – especially newly renovated offices – could be enough to make you sick, according to a new study.

Researchers found that most offices expose workers to harmful chemicals like PFCs (polyfluorinated compounds), which are evident in the workers’ blood.

PFCs are chemicals that can be released by office furniture, carpet stain repellents, paint, food packaging and other products.

The chemicals have been linked to health effects like thyroid hormone imbalance, cancer and infertility.

The study of 31 office workers in Boston revealed much higher levels of PFCs in the employees, levels that were 3-5 times higher than studies on household air. Researchers concluded that offices could be a significant source of exposure of PFCs.

The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology.

The researchers previously studied office dust and found high concentrations of a banned flame retardant (PBDE) on Boston office workers’ hands. They suggested regular hand washing as an effective solution.

Source: Hindustan Times

Clear the air with powerful air filters

Offices don’t have to be stuffy or bad for workers’ health.

While office managers and facility management should work together to introduce fewer chemicals and other toxins into the ambient air and to increase ventilation, a simple and effective way to breathe cleaner air is by using a portable air purifier.

AllerAir specializes in air purifiers for the home and office with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA plus optional UV filtration.

The activated carbon helps remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes and odors.

The HEPA filter traps particles and dust, and the UV lamp helps neutralize contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

The air purifiers are designed to run on a low setting 24/7, to remove pollutants on a continuous basis and to keep the air moving.

Check out what other people are saying, and contact an AllerAir IAQ expert for more information and suggestions based on your unique indoor air concerns.
  

Workplace exposure to pollutants can harm unborn children, study found

Most offices and other workplaces expose pregnant women
to a variety of pollutants that may affect their offspring.

As our colleagues at Electrocorp report today, a Danish study has found that breathing indoor air pollutants during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of the baby developing asthma later.

According to a Reuters article, the researchers analyzed the data of more than 45,000 children at age 7 and found that 18.6 percent developed asthma after their mothers had been exposed to low-molecular weight particles at work during pregnancy.

This was a slight increase from the general growing risk of developing asthma, which is 16.1 percent of the general population.

The study adjusted for risk factors such as age, BMI, allergy and hypersensitivities, smoking, medication and pets, but researchers warned that other factors may have influenced the results, which are not easily accounted for.

"Whilst a link has been found, our results at this stage are modest and further research is needed into specific chemicals and substances to determine those that could be most harmful," the study’s leading researcher was quoted as saying.

Cleaner indoor air at work with air cleaners

In many workplaces, existing ventilation systems are simply incapable of providing workers with enough air exchanges and enough fresh air to keep exposure to indoor air pollutants to a minimum.

Most indoor environments are filled with pollutants of a chemical nature (VOCs from building materials, paints, electronic equipment, cleaning products, etc), biological nature (mold growth due to moisture or humidity issues, bacteria and viruses) and particulate matter (dust and particles, which can also be laced with other toxins).

AllerAir offers portable and highly efficient air purifiers for the home and office, which can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants with their powerful activated carbon + HEPA filtration system.

For industrial air cleaners that can treat industry-specific indoor air contaminants quickly and efficiently, browse Electrocorp's solutions for various industry applications.

Contact AllerAir for more information and to find the best air purifier for your needs.