A One-year Study Shows Office Air Quality Impacts Cognition, Productivity

(Newswire.net — August 30, 2022) Orlando, FL — Health authorities have long been stressing the relevance of breathing good quality air. This is due to the fact that polluted air is linked with the increased risk of certain diseases.

A new study, which was spearheaded by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has shown that air quality within an office can have significant effects on the cognitive function of employees, such as their response times and ability to focus. Further, it has been found to affect their productivity. 

This research that lasted for a year involved subjects in offices across six countries working in various fields, such as engineering, real estate investment, architecture, and technology.

The investigators have particularly found that increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and reduced ventilation rates were linked with slower response times, as well as decreased accuracy on a series of cognitive tests. 

It’s also been noted that they observed impaired cognitive function at concentrations of PM2.5 and CO₂, which are common within indoor environments.

“Our study adds to the emerging evidence that air pollution has an impact on our brain. The findings show that increases in PM2.5 levels were associated with acute reductions in cognitive function. It’s the first time we’ve seen these short-term effects among younger adults,” said Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent.

Laurent is a research fellow in the Department of Environmental Health and lead author of the study. 

“The study also confirmed how low ventilation rates negatively impact cognitive function. Overall, the study suggests that poor indoor air quality affects health and productivity significantly more than we previously understood.”

The findings of this research were published online in Environmental Research Letters.

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