Julia Fussell and Salomé Gião discuss reducing the risk of poor indoor air quality within healthcare settings.
A convincing body of evidence exists linking exposure to outdoor air pollution to morbidity and mortality from cardiorespiratory disease and lung cancer. Furthermore, data from a growing number of studies suggests an influence on a broader number of diseases, including neurodevelopment deficits, dementia, adverse birth outcomes and diabetes (Thurston et al, 2017).
The magnitude of the problem has recently been endorsed in the updated World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs).
The danger of indoor air pollution
Until relatively recently, air pollution was deemed to be an outdoor hazard, with the general belief that an inside space offered protection.
Indoor air, however, is a highly complex cocktail driven by emissions, ventilation and a rich set of chemical transformations (Air Quality Expert Group, 2022).
It contains numerous sources of air pollutants, such as human activities (cooking, heating), products (cleaning and personal care products), living organisms (plants, mould, pets) as well as outdoor air pollutants that penetrate buildings through cracks, windows, doors and mechanical ventilation.
Healthcare settings are particularly complex and sensitive environments (Settimo et al, 2020). Many patients – such as children, the elderly and people with a lung or heart condition – can be disproportionately affected by air pollution, even at low concentrations (Sacks et al, 2011).
Air quality in hospitals and other healthcare facilities can be a significant risk factor, owing to the presence of pollutants that are often at higher concentrations compared with other indoor spaces (Baudet et al, 2021).
Furthermore, the provision of a round-the-clock service by hospitals means there is no idle time to recover from emissions and the consequent impact on indoor air quality (IAQ).
The effect on staff and patients
Headaches, fatigue, dryness and irritation of the eyes and skin are common complaints of healthcare professionals that have often been attributed to poor air quality (Hellgren et al, 2011).
Indoor air pollutants may also worsen the health of susceptible patients with pre-existing disease. More seriously, improper control of hospital IAQ may cause hospital-acquired infections and work-related respiratory diseases (Beggs et al, 2015).
The assessment and management of this invisible danger in all areas of healthcare facilities is of utmost importance for patient safety and occupational health.
Complex environments require specialised programmes to effectively monitor IAQ, control emission sources, coordinate preventive activities and promote public awareness through engaging and high-quality educational materials.
The scientific community should continue to investigate the issue, define smart and efficient procedures and design monitoring protocols and tools to strengthen and improve mitigation measures so that the air is safe for staff and patients to breathe.
Improving air quality
Dyson Technology Limited continues to investigate air pollution around the world.
Air quality monitoring backpacks, developed by company engineers and scientists to collect air pollution data on the move, are being used in the ACACIA (Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa) study led by Queen Mary University London and Imperial College London.
This initiative aims to describe personal exposure to air pollution in urban children with asthma symptoms in sub-Saharan Africa.
The backpacks have also been used in studies with athletes in Australia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and Switzerland and schoolchildren in the UK to evaluate personal exposure to air pollution and how to avoid it.
Dyson is using these relatable initiatives as a tool to engage and educate people about air quality and is applying the research to develop new air purifiers that can further help improve air quality in homes and public spaces, including healthcare settings.
Contact [email protected] for references.
For more information visit www.dyson.co.uk/en.
