The effects of air pollution on productivity

Air pollution has been shown to affect nearly every part of the body. Long-term exposure leads and/or contributes to a host of health issues including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, multiple types of cancer (including lung cancer), diabetes, obesity, mental health conditions, and reproductive and immune disorders¹. Studies are now beginning to show that air pollution has a negative impact on student and worker productivity. How does exposure to poor air quality affect educational and professional performance? How can we protect ourselves from air pollution? Read on to learn more.

The link between productivity and air quality

How does air quality affect work performance?

A growing body of evidence is pointing to air pollution’s impact on performance, focus, and productivity. Air pollution exposure is understood to cause inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body, and the brain is no exception. Studies have shown that exposure to air pollution, especially PM2.5, accelerates cognitive ageing, reducing productivity and doubling the risk of dementia and memory loss².

Productivity at work

According to a 2023 study, the main air pollutants associated with a reduction in worker productivity and work performance are ozone, particulate matter (PM) like PM10 and PM2.5, and carbon dioxide (CO2). What makes this problem concerning is that the symptoms incurred as a result of exposure to these pollutants at school and in the workplace are mild, but enough to impact work performance. Ozone, for example, leads to a decrease in lung performance. PM exposure has been known to cause irritation in the ears, nose, throat, and upper airways, as well as mild headaches and test score reduction. Indoors, PM often ranges from 70 to 100% of outdoor levels, making it a serious problem for students and workers. Furthermore, the study states that worker productivity reduction occurs even when indoor air pollution levels remain within current air quality standards³.

Source ³

A 2021 study found a link between indoor air pollution exposure in offices across six different countries and negative effects on performance. Increased levels of PM2.5 led to slower response times and reduced accuracy on cognitive tests. These results were observed in environments that had fairly common levels of both PM2.5 and carbon dioxide (CO2). The study claims that PM2.5 levels are associated with an ‘acute’ and highly concerning reduction in cognitive function⁴.

Productivity at school

A healthy indoor environment in schools has many benefits: improved test scores, reduced absence rate, and enhanced productivity amongst both teachers and students⁴. Infants and children are one of the most at-risk groups (alongside pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals) when it comes to the negative air pollution effects on health.

Studies suggest that indoor air pollutant levels in schools are higher than those found in households and commercial buildings. A 2011 study analysing the levels of indoor air pollution in German elementary schools found PM10 concentrations during school hours to be 5.6 times higher than outdoor PM10 levels. The study also found PM levels in elementary schools to be high enough to cause ‘toxicity in keratinocytes and in cells’, making it a more active form of PM, thus more capable of causing harm to human health, compared to PM found in homes and outdoor environments^5,6. Another study reported that indoor PM levels in schools peak at 75 μg/m3, exceeding the recommended daily standard of 50 μg/m3⁷.

Elevated levels of CO2, an indoor air pollutant and greenhouse gas generated by concentrated human presence and the combustion of fossil fuels, affect air quality and are a significant contributor to reduced productivity in students. Overcrowding has become a problem faced by 64 million students and 4.5 million teachers in Europe. Elevated CO2 levels cause headaches, lack of concentration, blurred vision, restlessness, memory disturbances, and nausea, amongst other symptoms⁷. 

Students in schools are also exposed to various allergens that may trigger asthma attacks and allergies in vulnerable children, causing further difficulties with productivity and performance at school. Some of those allergens and pollutants include:

• Chalk dust
• Mould and other fungal spores
• Germs (bacteria and viruses)
• Tobacco smoke
• Pollen
• Chemical pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated by cleaning products, laboratory products, art courses, construction materials, furnishings (desks and shelves), resins found in wood products, adhesives, paints, carpets, etc.
• Pet hair and dander⁸

How to improve air quality in schools and workplaces?

Keeping workers and students safe from stale, poor quality air is essential in supporting optimal performance and productivity. A few solutions exist that help combat poor indoor air quality and reduce air pollution in indoor spaces. Some include:

• Regular indoor air quality monitoring and testing
• Keeping indoor spaces clean and avoiding the accumulation of allergens
• Opening windows and ventilating the space whenever possible
• Investing in and regularly using air purification devices

Unfortunately, air pollution generated outdoors that makes its way indoors and contributes to indoor air pollution is often out of our control. This is why it is so important to use high-quality air purifiers in offices and schools to keep users of those spaces safe from air pollution effects that pose danger to our health.

Benefits of Eoleaf’s air purifiers for productivity

Improve air quality

For most individuals, the principal reason for purchasing an air purifier is to improve indoor air quality and reduce dangerous air pollution effects. A high-quality air purifier, like those on offer at Eoleaf, are capable of removing all types of air pollutant particles found in indoor air: allergens (dust, dust mites, pollen, pet hair and dander, mould and spores), germs (bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19), gaseous pollutants (VOCs including formaldehyde and benzene, two known human carcinogens), and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, and PM0.1).

It is important to note that multiple air filtration technologies are necessary in order to remove all of the types of air pollution mentioned above. Eoleaf devices are equipped with 8 different filtration technologies, all designed to target different pollution types. Our High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-certified filter captures 99.97% of particles down to a size of 0.01 microns in a single pass. Our activated carbon filter removes chemical pollution (VOCs) and unpleasant odours. The 6 other technologies found in our proprietary 8-step filter serve as complementary technologies, ensuring the in-depth purification of all types of air pollution in your indoor space.

Increase productivity

Thanks to Eoleaf’s multi-step air purification method by removing the above-mentioned pollutants, the health of workers and students alike is protected from air pollution effects that impact our health. This includes supporting optimal productivity and performance. In order to perform at their best, users of these spaces need to breathe fresh, pollutant-free air.

Remove unpleasant odours

Another contributor to poor work and school performance is the presence of unpleasant odours in indoor environments. These may be caused by cigarette smoke, gas, cleaning products, paint, furnishings, adhesives, and more. Bad odours make it difficult to focus, but Eoleaf’s activated carbon filter found in all of our devices is built to stop these odours in their tracks.

Factors to consider when choosing an air purifier for productivity

Filtration technologies

In order to rid the air of the smallest, most dangerous air pollutants, it is crucial to invest in a device with the technologies that enable it to do so. The removal of airborne particulate matter like PM10 and PM2.5 is only guaranteed with a HEPA-certified filter as HEPA filters are tested by third parties for their efficiency. HEPA filters also remove particles generated by tobacco smoke and allergens like dust mites, pollen, pet hair and dander, to name a few.

HEPA filters do, unfortunately, have their limitations. They are incapable of removing gaseous pollutants like VOCs, ozone, and unpleasant odours. Activated carbon filters are adept at removing this type of air pollution and are another essential technology required in combatting indoor air pollution.

Why not invest in a device that removes all types of air pollution? Eoleaf devices, thanks to their 8 different filtration technologies, fight the three main types of air pollution: fine particle pollution, chemical pollution, and biological pollution.

Noise level

It is crucial for an air purifier for productivity to be powerful yet quiet. When used in the workplace or classroom, workers and students should never be disturbed from their tasks. After all, the goal is to improve productivity, not contribute to it! A quiet air purifier should never exceed 60 dB of noise, even at their fastest fan speed. When running on their lowest fan speeds, Eoleaf devices even serve as white noise machines. Studies have shown that white noise provides benefits in speed when performing perceptual judgement tasks⁹.

Room size compatibility

When choosing an air purifier, ensure that it is properly sized to your space. Air purifiers are designed to filter the air in rooms of a maximum size in order to efficiently and effectively clean the air. Choose the device with the highest Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) possible: a higher CADR means that the device will clean the air more efficiently in your space. Also seek out a device with an Air Change per Hour (ACH) rate of 4 or 5, the recommended minimum in achieving completely filtered air.

Refer to our Buying Guide in order to consider all of the factors necessary when investing in an air purifier.

Choose Eoleaf

If you aim to support productivity and performance amongst your students or workers, an Eoleaf air purifier is there to protect the users of your space from all negative air pollution effects on health. Contact our team of air pollution experts for more assistance on choosing the right device for you, and let us help you start breathing cleaner air.

Frequently asked questions

How does poor air quality affect worker performance?

Studies have shown that air that is polluted with fine particle pollution (particulate matter, especially PM10 and PM2.5), ozone, elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), and/or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) contributes to decreased worker productivity and performance.

What are the effects of poor air quality?

Poor air quality leads to many adverse health effects in all systems of the body. These include: respiratory disease (allergies, asthma, COPD), cardiovascular disease, multiple types of cancer (especially lung cancer), diabetes mellitus, obesity, mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, and reproductive (lower fertility rates, increased risk of miscarriage) and immune disorders.

How does air pollution affect wellbeing?

Air pollution often leads to fatigue, headaches, lack of concentration and productivity, irritation of the upper airways, and onset/aggravation of respiratory conditions, symptoms of which may severely impact general wellbeing.

How can you tell if air pollution is affecting you?

If you have been feeling unwell but have not been able to explain your symptoms, it may be beneficial to have your indoor air tested. Eoleaf devices come equipped with a remote control display that tracks indoor air pollution levels in real-time, so you always know the level of air pollution in your space that may be contributing to unpleasant health symptoms.

How to combat poor air quality?

Two methods are effective at improving indoor air quality: 1) Ventilation. Open your windows and doors daily to help circulate stale air. If you live, work, or study in a place where leaving windows and doors open is not possible, it is recommended to 2) invest in an air purifier. Air purifiers help remove indoor air pollutants that degrade air quality. 

Do air purifiers reduce air pollution?

Absolutely. This is exactly what they are designed to do. However, not all air purifiers purify the air with the same efficiency. Do your research before choosing a device, and choose one with comprehensive air filtration technologies and a high CADR that will remove all types of air pollutants in your space. Eoleaf devices remove 99.97% of all air pollutants down to a size of 0.01 microns, including particulate matter like PM10 and PM2.5, in a single pass.

Resources

¹ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Air pollution and your health. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution

² Underwood, E. (2017, January 26). Brain pollution: Evidence builds that dirty air causes Alzheimer’s, dementia. Science. https://www.science.org/content/article/brain-pollution-evidence-builds-dirty-air-causes-alzheimer-s-dementia

³ Neidell, M., & Pestel, N. (2023). Air pollution and worker productivity. IZA World of Labor. doi:10.15185/izawol.363.v2

⁴ Harvard University. (2021, September 9). Office air quality may affect employees’ cognition, productivity. T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/office-air-quality-may-affect-employees-cognition-productivity/ 

⁵ Sadrizadeh, S., Yao, R., Yuan, F., Awbi, H., Bahnfleth, W., Bi, Y., Cao, G., Croitoru, C., de Dear, R., Haghighat, F., Kumar, P., Malayeri, M., Nasiri, F., Ruud, M., Sadeghian, P., Wargocki, P., Xiong, J., Yu, W., & Li, B. (2022). Indoor Air Quality and health in schools: A critical review for developing the roadmap for the Future School Environment. Journal of Building Engineering, 57, 104908. doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104908

⁶ Oeder, S., Dietrich, S., Weichenmeier, I., Schober, W., Pusch, G., Jörres, R. A., Schierl, R., Nowak, D., Fromme, H., Behrendt, H., & Buters, J. T. (2011). Toxicity and elemental composition of particulate matter from outdoor and indoor air of elementary schools in Munich, Germany. Indoor Air, 22(2), 148–158. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2011.00743.x

⁷ Pulimeno M, Piscitelli P, Colazzo S, Colao A, Miani A. Indoor air quality at school and students' performance: Recommendations of the UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development & the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA). Health Promot Perspect. 2020 Jul 12;10(3):169-174. doi: 10.34172/hpp.2020.29. PMID: 32802752; PMCID: PMC7420173.

⁸ Chithra, V.S., Nagendra, S.M.S. A Review of Scientific Evidence on Indoor Air of School Building: Pollutants, Sources, Health Effects and Management. Asian J. Atmos. Environ 12, 87–108 (2018). doi:10.5572/ajae.2018.12.2.87

⁹ Herweg NA, Bunzeck N. Differential effects of white noise in cognitive and perceptual tasks. Front Psychol. 2015 Nov 3;6:1639. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01639. PMID: 26579024; PMCID: PMC4630540.