Productivity and Health Effects of High Indoor Air Quality

Abstract

People spend up to 90–95% of their time inside buildings, and it is estimated that at least 30% of nonindustrial buildings can be considered to exist as problem buildings, many of them due to indoor air pollution. These conditions can generate significant costs to individuals, building owners, employers, and society. These costs are mainly due to reduced productivity but also due to direct medical costs and equipment damages. There are potentially considerable health and productivity benefits of reducing indoor air pollution and improving indoor air quality in nonindustrial buildings. Crude estimates of benefits from improving indoor environments for the United States suggest that potential annual savings and productivity gains can be from $29 to $168 billion and the reduction in absenteeism would produce net savings of $400 per employee per year, whereas improved productivity in Europe can result in an annual benefit of €330 per worker. Potential health and productivity benefits are not yet integrated in conventional economic calculations pertaining to building design and operation, which consequently affects indoor air pollution. The potential costs and economic benefits of reduced indoor air pollution and improved indoor air quality are discussed in the present article.