Importance of Air Quality Testing

In this article the environmental specialists at WTS consider the importance of air quality testing in both domestic and workplace environments. The article looks at the health and economic consequences caused by pollution, Sick Building Syndrome, what causes air pollution and how air testing can help improve home and workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, attendance and productivity issues.

Air quality testing

Air quality testing is a hot topic at the moment, especially in the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) figures putting the cost to European Union economies of pollution at over £1 trillion annually.

The WHO also estimates that around 500,000 people in Europe die each year as a consequence of air pollution, with a total of 3.4 million deaths across the globe.

Even worse, the figures indicate that the issue is getting worse, with figures expected to double by 2050 if drastic steps are not taken to deal with air quality and pollution.

What about indoor air quality?

Most Europeans spend around 90% of their lives indoors.

Indoor air quality is therefore a major factor in health.

Many office buildings and homes which don’t have windows which open properly, and which don’t have a system for testing the indoor air quality are at risk of Sick Building Syndrome or worse.

What is Sick Building Syndrome or SBS?

Sick Building Syndrome, or SBS, produces a range of symptoms which can include:

Rashes, or dry and itchy skin
Sore eyes, nose or throat
Poor concentration, feeling of general tiredness or irritability
Nasal congestion

What causes air pollution?

There is not one sole cause of air pollution.

It is caused by a range of pollutants, both natural and man-made that escape to contaminate the air both indoors and outdoors.

Some of the most common are pollutants include:

Nitrogen dioxide (caused by the burning of fossil fuels)
Sulphur dioxide
Carbon monoxide
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Dust, bacteria, pollen and fungus particles

There are laws in the UK to regulate air quality.

Although the Brexit period is underway, large combustion plants in the UK still have to abide by the European Union and European Commission directives about limiting polluting emissions.

In the UK, the relevant legislation which sets out limits and air quality levels is the 1995 Environment Act, and the National Air Quality Strategy.

How can air quality testing help?

The environmental scientists at WTS draw on the latest scientific techniques to monitor both internal and external air quality.

There is a range of testing kits, air quality monitors and analysis techniques used to identify and then quantify levels of air pollutants.

Learn more about air quality testing

The air quality specialists at WTS typically use a method that provides constant monitoring of the main indoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.

Tests usually report pollution in terms of parts per billion.

Specialist air quality testing and analysis solutions for home and business

WTS offer a comprehensive range of indoor air quality testing, monitoring and analysis solutions for business.

Find out how we can help improve domestic-residential and workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, attendance and productivity issues.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, in-field air quality specialists we can offer cost effective indoor air quality testing and environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Contact us today to learn how our air quality solutions can help improve home and workplace health and well-being, employee comfort, attendance and productivity issues.