Indoor air quality needs to improve
02 June 2009
The quality of outdoor air is a recurring theme on the agendas of politicians, the business community and society at large. However, in view of the amount of time we spend indoors, indoor air is at least as important. Yet it is given scant attention. It’s high time we put the quality of indoor air on the political and public agenda.
Research carried out by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) shows that on average, Dutch citizens spend 85% of their time in buildings and approximately 70% within the confines of their own home. Due to the nature of our climate, the average citizen spends no more than a few weeks outside every year.
It is interesting in this context that although we concern ourselves with the quality of the outdoor air, we are hardly interested in the quality of air indoors. This is all the more remarkable because in a large number of buildings, the quality of the indoor air is far poorer than the quality of the outdoor air. People with a bronchial condition, young children, senior citizens and ill people in particular are specifically affected by the quality of the indoor air.
Elements that negatively impact air quality in indoor areas include, among others, particulate matter and house dust mite excretions. There is the often-repeated misunderstanding that carpet contributes to the presence of particulate matter and house dust mite. The popular preconception is that carpet results in more dust and promotes allergies and asthma.
But in fact, the opposite is true. Carpet ensures that particulate matter, mite excretions and also pollen do not become airborne and are consequently not inhaled. Research certified by DAAB, a German allergy and asthma institute, shows that carpet strongly reduces the amount of particulate matter in indoor spaces. This was confirmed by research carried out by the German Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. One characteristic of carpet is that it retains dust so effectively that it is fifteen times more efficient than a smooth surface floor in keeping the air clean. The amount of airborne particulate matter in carpeted rooms is no less than 50% lower than that in rooms with a smooth floor.
Around a million people in the Netherlands have been diagnosed with asthma. This number is suspected to be even higher, but as these patients are not registered it is difficult to make a reliable estimate. The fact remains that people stand to gain from having clean air – including indoors. Misconceptions regarding the causes of a poor indoor climate will not help us to develop a healthier environment to live in. Rather, we can achieve this objective by giving this issue our focused attention and by taking preventative measures.
Alexander Collot d’Escury
Chief Commercial Officer