‘Wearing deodorant, peeling orange can pollute office air, cause fatigue’

Scientists have found that wearing deodorant to the office may contribute to indoor air pollution. A research conducted by scientists from Purdue University found that chemicals emitted by antiperspirants, make-up and hairspray reached levels that are up to 20 times higher than when outside. The study also revealed that peeling an orange released monoterpenes, which […]

Scientists have found that wearing deodorant to the office may contribute to indoor air pollution.

A research conducted by scientists from Purdue University found that chemicals emitted by antiperspirants, make-up and hairspray reached levels that are up to 20 times higher than when outside.

The study also revealed that peeling an orange released monoterpenes, which mix with ozone to form particles that may bury inside the lungs.

It is such that volatile organic compounds released by breathing were found to linger in the air long after the workers had gone home.

The scientists rigged four open-place offices with thousands of sensors to monitor for indoor air contaminants.

Study author Dr Brandon Boor said poor indoor air quality in office environments could inversely affect the health and wellbeing of office workers, adding that “elevated levels of indoor air pollutants and stale air can cause fatigue, irritation of the airways and headaches.

“We want to provide better air quality for office workers to improve their productivity,” he said.

Mail Online reports that to find out more, the scientists fitted several offices with indoor sensors, in one of the largest studies of its kind.

The sensors picked up on how the chemicals, called volatile organic compounds, moved through ventilation systems and filters.

Occupancy of workers was assessed by embedding temperature gauges in each of the office chairs. This revealed occupancy ‘drives the number of air pollutants in the indoor environment’, with chemicals lingering in the air even after the staff went home.

The findings will be presented at the American Association for Aerosol Research Conference in Portland.

“Our preliminary results suggest people are the dominant source of volatile organic compounds in a modern office environment,” Dr Boor said.

The results also showed ozone disappears inside offices when it enters from outdoors. Ventilation was found to have both a ‘positive and negative effect’. When outdoor air was delivered to the office, it diluted the concentration of pollutants generated inside.

However, it can also bring outdoor pollutants, like ozone, inside. The scientists hope their research will guide the development of better ventilation systems for offices.

According to the World Health Organisation, a third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease can be linked to air pollution.