THE INVISIBLE THREAT

A look at how outdoor air pollution impacts a building's indoor air quality and the strategies that support healthier, safer workplaces

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Outdoor air quality, especially during events like festivals, stubble burning season for farmers, and temperature inversions, has a direct and significant impact on indoor air quality (AQ). For facilities managers, understanding how pollutants infiltrate buildings, the role of HVAC systems, and the most effective mitigation strategies is essential to protect occupant health and maintain productivity.

Health and economic impacts

Air pollution is a major public health threat, reducing life expectancy and contributing to chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, as well as respiratory infections, heart attacks, and premature mortality. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a primary driver of these outcomes and imposes a substantial financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. For instance, studies have shown that a 10 ug/m3 reduction in PM2.5 in China could save $9.2 billion annually in healthcare costs.

Since people spend up to 85-90% of their time indoors, indoor PM2.5 concentrations play a pivotal role in daily exposure and the associated health risks. Beyond health, poor IAQ is linked to decline in cognitive and physical performance, with research indicating that learning and work efficiency can drop by up to 10-15% in environments with suboptimal air quality. This makes prioritising IAQ critical for facilities managers, not only to safeguard occupant well-being but also to support productivity and reduce costs related to absenteeism and healthcare.