Interest in indoor air quality (IAQ) has grown rapidly in the last two years, with the development of the Covid-19 pandemic playing a key role. Even before working from home became the new normal, people were spending more time indoors , and since the start of the pandemic, this has become even more widespread. Another thing that has happened in the last couple of years is that more people are spending more time in one place and/or space. In this case, it is the home.

This has led to a heightened interest in indoor comfort and put a magnifying glass on what indoor air quality is and how it affects us.

What is indoor air quality?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines indoor air quality as:

“Air quality in and around buildings and structures, in particular as regards the health and comfort of building occupants”

Since IAQ has health and comfort implications for occupants, home and business owners want to learn more about what influences poor IAQ and how to take better control of it. In almost every conceivable indoor space there are chemicals, objects and furnishings that off-gas, also known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs.

Some common sources of indoor air pollutants, as outlined by ASHRAE , include:

• Cleaning products for household use ” Toiletries
  and personal care products
• Paints, paint strippers and other decorating materials
• New carpets, flooring and some wooden furniture
• Combustion fuels/gas
• Tobacco

Depending on the type of sources of indoor air pollution, the effects of poor indoor air quality can manifest immediately or even years later. Some are more dangerous than others because they release pollutants constantly, but any indoor pollutant becomes increasingly dangerous as it accumulates. IAQ is also affected by temperatures and humidity, which can lead to mold and bacteria growth, further increasing the impact on health and comfort, as well as high CO₂ levels.

Sources of indoor air pollutants can be found in the communal kitchen

The health problems associated with poor IAQ range from irritated eyes and nose to nausea, dizziness and fatigue, signs of something called sick building syndrome (SBS), however, affect people differently and in some cases the symptoms will fade away on leaving.

Indoor air quality and children

Poor IAQ affects us all, and the risk of developing symptoms of SBS is the same, whether at home, in the office, at the hotel or gym or at school.

The WHO reports that “more than 40% of the world’s population – which includes 1 billion children under 15 – is exposed to high levels of household air pollution, mainly from cooking with polluting technologies and fuels”.

Children are at particular risk of health problems due to poor IAQ when they are younger and their bodies are developing. They also breathe more air and breathe faster than adults, so they may inhale more pollutants. The adverse effects of poor IAQ extend beyond health and can have repercussions on children’s education and their ability to learn.

Symptoms of poor air quality

Just like adults, children are susceptible to headaches, allergic reactions and breathing problems, including asthma.

In addition to developing the symptoms of sick building syndrome , there are other worrying ways in which poor IAQ affects children’s education, whether at home or at school, including:

– Increased hyperactivity and poor concentration

– Memory difficulties

– Reduced cognitive performance

– Leads to bad sleeping habits

How to improve air quality for
children’s education at home or at school

While this is perhaps worrying to read, there are steps that can be taken to combat indoor air pollution and improve air quality at home and at school.

Better yet, many of the steps that can be taken to protect children and create healthier learning and study environments are relatively simple. Below, we’ll talk about what can be done to minimize the impact of indoor air pollutants, including the integration of Oneconcept’s specialized air conditioning solutions.

Removing or controlling VOC sources

If possible, take measures that will reduce or eliminate the source of air pollution as a first step. It may be as easy as properly sealing a container or it may require more effort if furniture or fixtures are part of the problem.

Natural ventilation

Any airtight space should be regularly ventilated or have a constant source of outside air coming into the room. When a space has windows and doors closed for too long, pollutants, humidity and temperatures rise, creating an uncomfortable and unhealthy environment. Re-filling rooms with fresh air greatly reduces the effects of SBS and increases comfort.

Use air conditioning to improve comfort

For residential homes, Oneconcept residential air conditioners can help improve indoor thermal comfort by regulating the temperature of spaces. Also, as standard, most Oneconcept residential Oneconcept air conditioners feature a dry mode, which helps eliminate and reduce excess humidity. By controlling just these two factors, indoor thermal comfort can be greatly improved as well as indoor air quality.

Specialized filters are available in the Oneconcept air conditioning ranges:

The Oneconcept PM2.5 Wasabi air purifying filter** is a PM 2.5 Wasabi** filter that provides powerful antibacterial, anti-allergen, anti-mold and deodorizing properties when combined with the standard Oneconcept stainless steel cooling and heating pre-filter and can remove up to 99% of most common bacteria and allergens

Oneconcept UV Fresh** emits short-wave ultraviolet light onto the filters of the Oneconcept indoor unit from an internal LED, neutralizing 99% of trapped bacteria, keeping the interior of the unit clean and reducing the possibility of odour formation.

Oneconcept FrostWash™ ** is a technology that minimizes the amount of dust, mold and bacteria on the heat exchanger of your Oneconcept air conditioner. Using FrostWash reduces their presence by up to 93% and traps dust and dirt that lands on the heat exchanger by freezing the moisture that is generated during normal operation. The frost is then defrosted and hygienically washed out of the unit, carrying dust, mold and bacteria with it. Thanks to this feature, up to 99% of viruses are removed when using Oneconcept FrostWash.