The Impact Of Poor Air Quality on Yours & Others Health

We all agree that what we eat and drink is important. A healthy diet is crucial to our health, and that's why many of us spend a great deal of time thinking about what we put in our bodies. Yet, we don't give the same level of attention to the air we breathe in. However, we breathe in far more than we ever eat or drink. And the impact of what we breathe can be drastic. Just like a poor diet, if the air we “consume” is bad quality, the effects on our physical and mental health can be dire and even fatal.

What Is Bad Air Quality

It is clear that bad air quality is a severe issue. But what actually is bad air quality? Air quality refers to the composition of the air. The health risks outlined below result from too many air pollutants and prolonged exposure to them. Pollutants come in many forms, including:

Biological pollutants
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Ozone (O3)

The Health Risks Of Bad Air Quality

The pollutants we breathe in can have a damaging effect on several key organs and systems within the body. For many, the most likely thing to come to mind will be the lungs. And though the lungs and respiratory system are certainly at risk, your eyes, nose, throat, and heart can all be affected too. Public Health England also states, "Emerging evidence suggests that air pollution may also affect the brain”.

Air pollutants can lead to coughing and shortness of breath in the short term. It can also exacerbate asthma. And over an extended period, they can contribute to respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions.

Air quality affects us at all stages of life. It has been linked to low birth weight. In childhood, it can result in slowed lung function development. And for adults, the results can be as severe as a stroke or lung cancer. Air quality is also associated with dementia, heart attacks, and lung function decline in later years.

The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) has observed that by increasing the risks of cancers, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease, air pollution contributes to thousands of deaths in the UK. Some estimates place this number between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths annually.

In addition to the link between air pollution and cognitive decline in later years, the toll on cognitive function can be seen much earlier. Research suggests air quality can negatively affect children's ability to learn and their productivity. There is also a correlation between air quality and mental health, with research suggesting it plays a role in conditions such as depression.

With the impacts of air quality extending to our mental health, it is proven to be a wide-reaching threat which poses risks to all areas of our health and wellness. Combined with its ever-present nature, it is one of the foremost health challenges we face.

Indoor Air Quality

When we talk about air pollution, it likely conjures up ideas of vehicles spewing fumes into the air. And whilst this is undoubtedly a factor, outdoor air quality is only one side of the issue. Much of our time is spent indoors, in social settings such as work offices, gyms, schools, and shops. Though the problem is very real and the risks are significant, the fact that indoor air quality is such a large part of the issue is reassuring. Unlike outdoor air quality, we can take greater ownership of indoor space and make practical changes to improve the air quality in many of the most commonly occupied spaces. In fact, not only can we improve indoor air quality, in some cases it is a legal requirement. We must meet air purifying legislation, which includes The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations requiring employers to assess risks to employees.

Identifying Poor Air Quality

Part of the issue with air quality is that so few of us know what's in the air we breathe. Without proper air quality tests, it can be almost impossible to tell. To continue the comparison to the food we consume - food is often labelled. It includes nutritional values, lists of allergens and much more. And all of this information is crucial to helping us make intelligent choices about what we eat and drink. So when aiming to improve the quality of the air we breathe, a great starting point is to be as equally informed and understand the makeup of the air around us.

An internal air quality assessment and dust inhalation risk assessment will serve as a risk assessment for indoor air quality. It will establish a baseline for the quality of the air and identify what pollutants are present. Armed with this invaluable information, an air quality specialist can recommend the right air quality management system.

Improving Air Quality

There are a number of measures you can take to improve indoor air quality. Though a risk assessment will highlight specific needs and an air quality specialist can match those to more tailored solutions the broad ideas and approaches are the same.

A great starting point is to focus on avoiding the ingress of outdoor pollutants.

Firstly, to tackle outdoor emissions there are three main areas to address; ventilation, filtration, and keeping your building “airtight”. For ventilation, positioning is vital. If placed too close to ground pollutants, such as near a busy road with high car emissions, you will bring many pollutants into the building. Placing ventilation intake on the roof is often a more suitable option.

Even well-positioned ventilation will permit some level of contaminants into a building. To mitigate this, you can utilise filters which trap the pollutants. HEPA filters are the recognised standard for high-quality filters as they can capture large particles (such as pollen and mould spores) and smaller particles (such as chemicals and fossil fuels).

Finally, to prevent emissions from entering your building, keep it airtight or as close as you can get. This means keeping windows shut, which may seem counterintuitive. It may be your first impulse to open a window to allow bad quality air to escape. However, this is merely an invitation for more polluted outdoor air to enter the building. With the correct ventilation and filtration, the air in the building will be far cleaner than that from outside, so allowing outdoor air in should be avoided where possible.

The next area to address is indoor pollutants. Again, you will require ventilation, expelling pollutants where avoiding them is not possible such as those from cooking. Filtration will also be essential. Capturing pollutants with filters in your HVAC system will prevent them from being recirculated throughout the building. Whilst ventilation and filtration are key to dealing with pollutants in the air, you should also take measures to reduce pollutants from being emitted indoors.

Learn More About Air Quality

If you’re interested in learning more about air pollution, its effects and how to improve it visit our blog. We have many useful guides, filled with information and advice. Here are some top picks for your next read;

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how to choose a good air purifier for your office

Our Guide To Choosing The Right Air Purifier For Your Business

By Andy Potter • February 11, 2025

The workplace is where your employees spend the majority of their time during the week, and having great air quality is crucial not only for their health but also for their productivity. Improving the air quality in your office minimises the risk of your employees having to take sick leave, as it reduces the level of respiratory diseases and allergens in the air. Investing in a high-quality air purifier is one of the best ways to improve the air quality in your workspace. There’s no shortage of air purifiers on the market, but how do you know which is best? This is our comprehensive explainer guide to why you should invest in an air purifier and the factors you must keep at the forefront of your mind during your search. The Importance Of Indoor Air Quality In The Workplace Indoor air quality (IAQ) is vital in the workplace, and it refers to the quality of the air within indoor spaces. Poor indoor air quality correlates directly with the amount of sick days taken in workplaces. Having a poor IAQ can cause a number of different detrimental health side effects, including allergies, headaches, dizziness, nausea and respiratory problems. The World Health Organisation has called air quality “the world’s largest single environmental health risk,” so there is definite cause for concern regarding your workplace's IAQ. Not only is it vital for ensuring workplace health and safety, but it’s also crucial for maintaining a great reputation in your industry. What Kinds Of Rules & Regulations Are In Place For Workplace IAQ? There are a number of different rules around IAQ that are set out in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations. These regulations state that all workplaces must be ventilated with enough fresh air to prevent ill health. The HSE recommends a fresh air supply of 5-8 litres per second per person but in commercial buildings, 10 litres per second per person is the recommendation. Investing in air purifiers for business is a great way to ensure that you are always compliant with the most current IAQ regulations. When it comes to air quality, the air introduced into a workplace needs to be free of impurities or airborne diseases that may cause illness. But with so many air purifiers on the market, how do you know which is best for your business? Choosing An Air Purifier: Everything You Need To Know When it comes to air purifiers , there are a few things you have to be aware of in order to get the most out of your model – there’s no point investing in an air purifier if you’re not going to see any benefits. These are some of the most important things you need to be aware of when you’re looking for an air purification system that will work for your space. 1. Room Size Knowing the room size is crucial if you’re looking for an air purifier for your workplace. There’s no point investing in a model that isn’t large enough when you calculate your air volume. 2. Your Problem Knowing your problem is key to figuring out which purifier is going to work best for your business. First uncover if your IAQ problems are to do with viruses, mould, smells or something else entirely so that you can tailor your solutions to best suit your needs. 3. Your Needs Once you’ve got your room size and your problem pinpointed, you can begin to look for an air purifier that creates the correct number of Air Changes per Hour (ACH), if this isn’t able to be achieved, your air purifier won’t perform. You also have to be aware of the types of filters that you need as this can have a big impact on ACH. It’s crucial to choose a model that has the right sensor for your needs, otherwise, the auto mode becomes redundant. For example, if smells or dust are the major problem you’re facing, having a model with an in-built CO2 detector isn’t necessary. Types Of Businesses That Can Benefit From Air Purifiers There are a number of businesses that benefit from air purifiers and it’s not just office spaces. Hotels, nursing homes, construction sites and student accommodation are all examples of spaces where IAQ is crucial. Hotel rooms, student accommodation, and offices that lack ventilation can experience issues with both air quality and mould, so ensuring you have an air purification process in place is vital to ensure the safety of employees, guests, and residents alike. Office spaces may benefit from ultra-quiet models that can be on at all times without interrupting telephone calls or important meetings. Whilst hotels and student accommodations may benefit from a wall model that has both air purification and dehumidification in a single unit so you can improve ventilation, prevent mould and improve air quality. Types Of Filters For Your Workplace HEPA HEPA air filters can trap 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or smaller. They remove allergens like dust, mould, pollen and dander. They can also effectively remove smoke and fumes. HEPA filters are great for use in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other areas where constant air purification is an absolute must. Carbon Filters Carbon filters use activated carbon to remove smells, gasses and pollutants from the air. They’re great for removing smells from smoke as well as removing volatile organic compounds like paint, cleaning products and construction materials. They are also effective at removing gasses from acetone and paint fumes, so they are great for construction sites. UC-V UC-V purifiers use Ultraviolet-C light to eliminate airborne pathogens like bacteria, viruses and mould spores. They are great for air purification in areas where reducing airborne pathogens is vital. The UV-C light is combined with filtration technologies like HEPA or carbon filters to neutralise and remove any potential contaminants. Air Purifier Placement Placement matters when it comes to choosing an air purifier for your workplace. You need to ensure it is off the floor, which saves space and ensures that it doesn’t just get unplugged and forgotten about by an employee. Wall models are a great option for businesses as they can be wired into an electrical circuit to be on 24/7. These are perfect for workplaces as you can “set and forget” your air purifier and rest assured that the IAQ in your space is in line with UK regulations. They’re also great as they save space and are a discreet option if aesthetics are important to you. Ceiling models (with noise reduction) are another popular option for workplaces. They can be easily added to the correct positions so that the room's individuals benefit directly from the clean airflow. How Can Ultra Protect Help You? If you’ve been wondering how to choose a good air purifier for your business, our team at Ultra Protect is here to help. In addition to our range of air purifiers, we also have InBiot , a smart solution that monitors and enhances your building's indoor air quality in real-time. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current air purification process or you’re moving to a new space and want to start fresh, we can provide you with bespoke solutions that will work for your business. Contact us today for a consultation or for more information on how you can effectively improve the IAQ in your workplace.