Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air humidity - the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on health, work performance, and risk of infection
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air humidity - the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on health, work performance, and risk of infection
Indoor air humidity - the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on health, work performance, and risk of infection
Subject
Indoor air humidity,the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on
health, work performance, and risk of infection
health, work performance, and risk of infection
Description
Introduction: Epidemiological and experimental studies in office-like environments have shown the effects of the indoor air humidity, room temperature, and ventilation on human health, work and cognitive performance, and risk of infection.
Materials and Methods: Here, we integrate epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies about the influence of the indoor air humidity and assess its impact in offices based on focused literature searches.
Results: Exposure to low indoor air humidity causes vulnerable eyes and airways from desiccation and less efficient mucociliary clearance. This elevates the reporting of the most common mucous membrane-related symptoms in office-like environments, like dry and tired eyes, which deteriorates the work and cognitive performance. Intervention of dry indoor air conditions by humidification stabilizes the precorneal tear film and the mucous membranes in the upper airways. This alleviates symptoms of dry eyes and airways, fatigue symptoms, more clearly in the elderly population. Further, less complaints about perceived dry air are reported and work performance appears to be less compromised. The elevation of the indoor air humidity from dry air conditions reduces the risk of infection by lower viability and transport of influenza virus, and
more robust mucous membranes.
Conclusions: Relative humidity between 40 and 60% appears optimal for health, work performance, and lower risk of infection.
Materials and Methods: Here, we integrate epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies about the influence of the indoor air humidity and assess its impact in offices based on focused literature searches.
Results: Exposure to low indoor air humidity causes vulnerable eyes and airways from desiccation and less efficient mucociliary clearance. This elevates the reporting of the most common mucous membrane-related symptoms in office-like environments, like dry and tired eyes, which deteriorates the work and cognitive performance. Intervention of dry indoor air conditions by humidification stabilizes the precorneal tear film and the mucous membranes in the upper airways. This alleviates symptoms of dry eyes and airways, fatigue symptoms, more clearly in the elderly population. Further, less complaints about perceived dry air are reported and work performance appears to be less compromised. The elevation of the indoor air humidity from dry air conditions reduces the risk of infection by lower viability and transport of influenza virus, and
more robust mucous membranes.
Conclusions: Relative humidity between 40 and 60% appears optimal for health, work performance, and lower risk of infection.
Creator
Peder Wolkoff, Kenichi Azuma and Paolo Carrer
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Files
Citation
Peder Wolkoff, Kenichi Azuma and Paolo Carrer, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air humidity - the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on health, work performance, and risk of infection,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2482.
Indoor air humidity - the forgotten indoor parameter; impact on health, work performance, and risk of infection,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2482.