Indoor Air Quality and Health Effects

1. Nr. 1 Indoor Air QualityandHealth Effects This presentation explains why air humidification and air cleaning makes a lot of sense for our well-being and health. Here are some facts about indoor air quality.This presentation explains why air humidification and air cleaning makes a lot of sense for our well-being and health. Here are some facts about indoor air quality.

2. Nr. 2 Indoor climate The indoor climate consists of four factors, that are connected closely with each other. There is the temperature that is controlled through heating and air conditioning. For this presentation we are assuming that this factor is always at a healthy 22°C. We will have a closer look at humidity, air pollution and draught and their effect on our indoor climate and consequently on our well-being.The indoor climate consists of four factors, that are connected closely with each other. There is the temperature that is controlled through heating and air conditioning. For this presentation we are assuming that this factor is always at a healthy 22°C. We will have a closer look at humidity, air pollution and draught and their effect on our indoor climate and consequently on our well-being.

3. Nr. 3 Room Climate

4. Nr. 4 Doctors and indoor air professionals recommend a relative air humidity level of 40 - 60 %  Relative Humidity In the heating period and air conditioning period the humidity levels indoors often dorp below 30 %.In the heating period and air conditioning period the humidity levels indoors often dorp below 30 %.

5. Nr. 5 How thirsty is the air? Oftentimes people claim that if you open the window regularly in the winter time you can increase the humidity level of the heated indoor air, hence outside there is a healthy relative humidity level of around 75%. On this graphic you see that this is not true for the following reason: - Cold air can hold much less water than warm air. I.e. that 4 ml of water means a humidity level of 70% at 0°C. If you heat up this air with the 4 ml of water to 20°C this water only humidifies the air to 17%. This is because warm air can hold more water than cold air and to be 100 % satisfied (humidified) it would need 17 ml of water.Oftentimes people claim that if you open the window regularly in the winter time you can increase the humidity level of the heated indoor air, hence outside there is a healthy relative humidity level of around 75%. On this graphic you see that this is not true for the following reason: - Cold air can hold much less water than warm air. I.e. that 4 ml of water means a humidity level of 70% at 0°C. If you heat up this air with the 4 ml of water to 20°C this water only humidifies the air to 17%. This is because warm air can hold more water than cold air and to be 100 % satisfied (humidified) it would need 17 ml of water.

6. Nr. 6 Consequences of Dry Air Dry air tries to find humidity everywhere: in humans, animals, furniture, hard wood floors, musical instruments etc. and these are the consequences:Dry air tries to find humidity everywhere: in humans, animals, furniture, hard wood floors, musical instruments etc. and these are the consequences:

7. Nr. 7 Consequences of Dry Air

8. Nr. 8 Impact of Relative Air Humidity This graphic visualizes why doctors recommend a relative humidity between 40 and 60 %.This graphic visualizes why doctors recommend a relative humidity between 40 and 60 %.

9. Nr. 9 Room Climate

10. Nr. 10 Indoor Air Quality - a Health Concern The levels of indoor air pollution have dramatically increased over the past few years for the following reasons: - higher air pollution outdoors - better sealing of buildings to prevent heat loss thus resulting in less air  exchange - materials used for building such as paint, glues (pressed wood), more  upholstered furniture (house dust mite allergens).The levels of indoor air pollution have dramatically increased over the past few years for the following reasons: - higher air pollution outdoors - better sealing of buildings to prevent heat loss thus resulting in less air exchange - materials used for building such as paint, glues (pressed wood), more upholstered furniture (house dust mite allergens).

11. Nr. 11 We spend 90% of our time indoors

12. Nr. 12 Indoor Air Quality Sources for indoor air pollution? Tobacco smoke From outdoors: pollen, fine particles from traffic etc. House dust mites in upholstery, carpets, heavy curtains Toner dust from laser printers and copiers People and animals Fire places, wood and gas stoves Fungus VOC‘s from furniture, paint, press board etc.

13. Nr. 13 Particle Sizes An air cleaner without HEPA filters uses a common particle filter. Here you can see how much more effective a HEPA filter is. People suffering from allergic asthma are in most cases allergic to house dust mite allergens. For those a common particle filter is not effective. The airborne house dust mite allergens can only be captured with a HEPA filter. An air cleaner without HEPA filters uses a common particle filter. Here you can see how much more effective a HEPA filter is. People suffering from allergic asthma are in most cases allergic to house dust mite allergens. For those a common particle filter is not effective. The airborne house dust mite allergens can only be captured with a HEPA filter.

14. Nr. 14 Indoor Air Pollution and their Health Effects

15. Nr. 15 Lung and respiratory diseases (D)... ... are the cause for 10 % of all absences from the workplace due to  illness (sick notes) 10 % of all early retirements over 40 % of all occupational illnesses 20 % of all fatal cancer cases

16. Nr. 16 Air quality improvement measures Eliminate sources where possible Airing helps The particle concentration is reduced Problem: pollen and other pollutants can come inside Use good quality air purifiers Additional measures encasings for bedding and matress vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters

17. Nr. 17 Reduction of indoor air pollution ... ... can have the following effects in young children: Prevention of allergies Delay of the occurrence of an allergy Reduction of the symptoms of an allergy Advantages for people already suffering from allergies Reduction of the symptoms of an allergy Often reduction of medication intake possible More relaxing sleep

18. Nr. 18 Room Climate

19. Nr. 19 Indoor air quality - yesterday & today Older buildings are not as tightly insulated as new buildings. This allows a high exchange of the indoor air with the outdoor air. In the winter time the constant leaking of air from outside with little moisture lets the relative humidity indoors drop, often below 30 %. In these houses there is a need to add extra moisture to the air - with humidifiers. Thanks to the high exchange of the indoor air with cleaner outdoor air in older houses the particle concentration is diluted regularly. Therefore the pollution in such buildings is usually much lower than in new buildings. Older buildings are not as tightly insulated as new buildings. This allows a high exchange of the indoor air with the outdoor air. In the winter time the constant leaking of air from outside with little moisture lets the relative humidity indoors drop, often below 30 %. In these houses there is a need to add extra moisture to the air - with humidifiers. Thanks to the high exchange of the indoor air with cleaner outdoor air in older houses the particle concentration is diluted regularly. Therefore the pollution in such buildings is usually much lower than in new buildings.

20. Nr. 20 Indoor air quality - yesterday & today Because of better sealing to prevent heat losses and quality improvements in construction methods, buildings are nowadays less thoroughly ventilated than they used to be. This results in a general deterioration in the quality of the indoor air. The particle concentration is not diluted. This low exchange rate helps on the other hand to keep the moisture inside and therefore the air in new houses does usually not need extra humidification. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) only occurs in tightly sealed buildings. This is a problem expecially in air conditioned buildings where the windows cannot be opened.Because of better sealing to prevent heat losses and quality improvements in construction methods, buildings are nowadays less thoroughly ventilated than they used to be. This results in a general deterioration in the quality of the indoor air. The particle concentration is not diluted. This low exchange rate helps on the other hand to keep the moisture inside and therefore the air in new houses does usually not need extra humidification. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) only occurs in tightly sealed buildings. This is a problem expecially in air conditioned buildings where the windows cannot be opened.

21. Nr. 21 Indoor air quality Pure and ideally humidified air increases our well-being and health!! Air cleaners and humidifiers help us to obtain a healthy indoor climate!

22. Nr. 22 Some Facts and Figures on Allergies

23. Nr. 23 Development of Allergy Occurence (CH)

24. Nr. 24 Incidence of Allergies and Respiratory Illnesses (D)

25. Nr. 25 Allergy distribution (D)

26. Nr. 26 Allergy risk based on allergy history of the family