Because most of our offices are so well insulated, they have become a haven for airborne pollutants that literally have no way out. Instead of the air being exchanged for new air, in many cases it is simply re-circulated through filters that are not as effective as they need to be to get rid of the contaminants causing the odor. Here are 5 pollutants that could be causing odor in your office and a cure for the problem.
Old Carpet- Who doesn't love a soft carpet underfoot, particularly in an office where you stay on the go. Well people aren't the only ones who love carpet-mold and mildew spores do too. These spores are ever present both indoors and out, but never really become a problem until they find moisture.
If the carpet in your office has been there for a number of years, it has probably been subject to roof leaks, water cooler leaks, spills and accidents that have all contributed to mold and mildew growth. And normal daily activity in the office causes even more spores to be sent airborne.
For those who are allergic and asthmatic, this is enough to send their bodies into overdrive with sneezing, watery eyes, and runny noses. And those who are not sensitive simply notice a lingering musty smell particularly when entering the office in the morning.
New Carpet- So maybe your boss, or maybe you're the boss, ripped out the old stuff and installed new wall-to-wall. And wow, does it look gorgeous. It's just that now you may be finding it hard to breathe because of the overpowering "new carpet smell" that just won't quit.
The odor is often a result of adhesives used to glue the carpet in place, as well as the formaldehyde that is sometimes used in the manufacturing process of the carpet and padding. There are organic carpets available, but those don't off-gas the strong odor that you may now be experiencing in your office.
Paint- If you've been lucky enough to have your office freshened with a coat or two of paint there's good news and bad. The good news is that it probably looks great; the bad news is that unless the paint used was low in volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) the paint fumes could linger for months.
For people who are chemically sensitive to volatile organic chemicals, the smell remains a source of irritation presenting itself through physical symptoms such as burning eyes and throat, congestion, headaches, and sometimes nausea throughout the day-every day. And now even though the office looks great, it doesn't feel very good to be there.
New Furniture- If your office has just been redecorated with draperies, cabinets, chairs, and/or sofas, be aware that many of the chemicals used to make fabrics stain resistant, and chemicals frequently used in pressed wood furniture can send fumes into the air for many months. Those who suffer from Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS) find it hard to tolerate the odor to the point of feeling sick.
Office Supplies- Every well-stocked office probably contains some adhesive, glues, magic markers, copier with toner, paper, and the lingering smell of the cleaning solutions used to clean when the office is not in use. Many of these supplies also off-gas chemicals fumes constantly in a low, but steady stream.
Any one of the above 5 pollutants makes for less than desirable indoor air quality, and a combination of these can lead to office odor at best, and unhealthy air at worse.
Maybe you can't change corporate policy on air quality, but you can control the air around you by filtering the odors, and fumes with a portable high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier. It can go wherever you go, and that means that fresh, clean, healthy air is always as close as the nearest electrical outlet.
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