Facts on Air Quality

Air Quality Explained

For some, it can be easy to bury our heads in the sand when it comes to air quality. After all, why fear what we cannot see? But we are here to tell you a few facts about air quality that might make you sit up and realise the importance.

The Average Person Spends Only 8% of their Lives Outside

According to BRE, the average person only spends 8% of their time outside. This means that a person’s exposure to indoor air pollution is far more significant as they breathe less ‘fresh’ air. That means in an average week; the average person is breathing in polluted indoor air for 155 hours.



We also breathe in on average 13kg of air a day but only eat around 2kg and drink around 3kg. So, why aren’t we paying more attention to the air quality we put into our bodies?

Staggering Numbers of Deaths Linked to Dirty Air

A report from ‘Better Homes, Better Air, Better Health’ revealed that a staggering 40,000+ deaths are linked to the breathing of ‘dirty air’. This is due to countless health conditions.


In 2019, tiny particles of sand, wood and asbestos contributed to 12,000 deaths from lung disease in the UK, according to the Health and Safety Executive.



Similarly, the HSE reported that there were around 39,000 individuals suffering from breathing and lung problems in the UK and around 8,000 deaths per year due to occupational cancer. It is a bigger global killer than smoking.



Construction Workers are More Likely to Die due to Poor Air Quality than Occupational Hazards


Did you know that around 100 times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are killed in construction accidents?


In such high-impact jobs filled with numerous occupational hazards, no one would expect the quality of the air to be the biggest danger and cause of death.

Dust is a Silent Killer

The harmful effects of dust can vary, from skin irritation to lung cancer, depending on the composition of the dust and the type and degree of exposure. However, dust is not always an obvious hazard because the particles which cause the most damage are often invisible to the naked eye. The health effects of exposure can also take years to develop.

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Poor Air Quality Can Increase Risk of

COVID-19


Studies have estimated that poor air quality contributes to 19% of all cardiovascular deaths and 29% of all lung cancer deaths.


Health conditions caused or worsened by air pollution - such as asthma, heart disease and COPD - can also make people more vulnerable to complications if they contract COVID-19.


Emerging evidence also suggests that air pollution contributes to the number of COVID-19 cases by making those exposed to high levels of air pollution more susceptible to contracting the virus.


How Can Your Combat Poor Air Quality

We hope that by now, we have convinced you why air quality is not to be ignored and inspired you on a path to transforming your business. 

If you’re concerned about whether air quality is an issue on your premises, find out more about our air quality assessments available. From this, we can help you plan out the best course of action to make a positive change in your air quality and offer help and guidance on our air purifiers, filters and dust blockers. 

If you want to learn more about these hazards, read more about the importance of air quality and the dangers of dust in the workplace.

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