When we think of air pollution, our minds often conjure up images of smog-filled cityscapes, vehicle exhaust, or plumes rising from industrial factories. These are the visible signs of outdoor air contamination—gases, particles, and biological agents that the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies as major threats to public health and the environment.
In fact, air pollution is considered one of the leading causes of non-communicable diseases, responsible for millions of premature deaths each year. But what if the real danger isn’t just outside your door—what if it’s inside your workplace, school, or home?
Indoor air pollution is a hidden threat, often overlooked yet potentially more hazardous because it’s where we spend up to 90% of our time.
What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the health and comfort of individuals in enclosed environments, focusing on airborne contaminants and ventilation factors that impact occupant well‑being and performance (Government of Canada, EPA).
Indoor Air Quality Awareness
Awareness surrounding IAQ has garnered more attention recently due to several factors:
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in raising awareness about indoor air quality. Beginning in early 2020, people across all ages and demographics were affected by this global health crisis. In response, a wide range of protective measures became part of everyday life—people wore various types of masks and respirators, avoided crowded indoor spaces, and practiced physical distancing to reduce exposure. These were all methods of controlling the hazard presented by COVID-19, and many of these practices have endured even beyond the height of the pandemic. Today, it's increasingly common to see individuals wearing masks in enclosed public spaces such as bus shelters and public transit, libraries, offices, and other indoor environments.
Forest Fires
The rise in forest fires in recent years has also acted as a major wake-up call, further increasing public awareness about air quality. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions are often the first to feel the effects as smoke and particulate matter degrade the air we breathe. During periods of poor outdoor air quality, public health advisories typically urge people to stay indoors.
But what happens when the air inside isn’t much better? If indoor environments lack proper filtration or ventilation, staying inside may still mean exposure to harmful pollutants. This concern is amplified by two key trends: the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires, and the fact that people now spend more time indoors than ever before.
Causes of Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality can derive from a number of different circumstances. Here are some common sources:
Poor ventilation: Proper ventilation allows fresh air to enter a building and old air to exit, thereby removing pollutants or contaminants that may be present in the indoor air.
Cigarette Smoke: Cigarettes “emit a wide range of chemicals, such as formaldehyde, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds” (Government of Canada, 2024). Banning the use of cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, indoors and ensuring smokers are a reasonable enough distance away from the building to avoid smoke entering, helps to improve the quality of indoor air.
Equipment: Fuel-burning equipment and machinery that generate mists can produce pollutants. While the immediate work areas where these processes occur may have implemented necessary preventative measures, it's crucial to acknowledge that workers in adjacent areas can also be affected. Keeping doors closed or sealing off pollution-generating activities helps to reduce the potential for additional worker exposures.
Water Build-Up: Biological pollutants like mould, fungi, and bacteria thrive in areas where water builds up and is stagnant. Common places we might experience this would be in bathrooms, kitchens, laboratories, and confined spaces like vaults, sewers, and process vessels.
Construction: Materials used in construction and renovation can release pollutants and contaminants through off-gassing. One of the most common culprits is volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Other sources of off-gassing contamination include paints, varnishes, epoxies, and glues.
How to Control Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Ventilation: Proper ventilation is a key factor to ensure good IAQ. To aid your workplace in maintaining proper ventilation, there are a number of considerations. Start by ensuring that objects are not blocking the heating/air-conditioning vents. Keep windows and doors open if the outdoor air conditions are preferable and to expedite air flow and replacement. Keep interior doors open to allow for better air circulation overall. Inspect, replace, and maintain the HVAC filter(s) as often as the manufacturer recommends.
Remove/Minimize: Consider removing or minimizing the use of sources of pollutants and contaminants that lead to poor IAQ . Develop policies and procedures to support the reduction or removal of contaminants and processes that contribute to poor IAQ. Minimized the use of indoor scents, room deodorizers, candles and incense. Some workplaces may even require anti-scent policies to protect workers with perfume and scent sensitivities.
Refrain from powering up any equipment indoors unnecessarily that release pollutants. Wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with products like cleaning products and chemicals and ensure the proper air ventilation equipment is available when using those hazardous products. Your PPE should include a respirator mask. If you haven’t already gotten your respirator fit testing yet, it’s a good time to do it. Just search for ‘respirator fit testing near me’ to get started.
Inspections: Perform regular workplace inspections as part of the health and safety representative duties or joint health and safety committee (JHSC) duties looking for sources of poor IAQ contributors. Early detection of hazardous conditions means a quicker response in eliminating or controlling any potential negative effects on workers. During inspections, look for the use of chemicals, observe processes, and physical and environmental sources such as areas where there is moisture, water build-up, odours, and changes in the operation/sound of your HVAC system or any operating equipment. Also, make respirator fit testing mandatory for all workers if they happen to work in environments where indoor air pollution cannot be controlled.
Poor Air Quality?
How do we know if we are dealing with poor air quality? Typically, although not the preferred way to identify if there is an IAQ problem, is that workers complain of symptoms such as headaches, coughing, or nausea. But this means that workers have been exposed to hazards that they should be avoiding. Obviously, this is not ideal. The solution may be obvious, like installing ventilation system(s) at the source of the hazard or opening doors and windows. In consultation with the health and safety representative(s), hiring an industrial hygienist to test the air for contaminants might also be a consideration to determine the status of the indoor air quality. That said, until all contaminants are removed, encourage workers to wear a certified respirator mask. A respirator fit testing session can help each worker find their perfect fit.
Up in Smoke - Second-hand Fentanyl Exposure and Poor IAQ
A recent article published by the Canadian Press found that “Fentanyl in air at Vancouver supportive housing offices” was grossly exceeded and that workers could not escape “substantial exposure” even while avoiding facility common areas and staying within their offices at 14 British Columbia supportive housing facilities a 600-page study at Vancouver and Victoria locations observed.
The article describes the difficulty workers are facing trying to avoid exposure to secondhand fentanyl smoke. Results from the testing concluded that some locations may have higher levels of “airborne fentanyl above the limit WorkSafeBC has established”. In its assessment of one facility in particular, they found the fentanyl exposure exceeded the 12-hour threshold limit set out. They are looking at strengthening the smoking policies for tenants and, in some cases, requiring workers to wear respiratory protection.
This study is an important reminder of the continued awareness needed across all industries and workplaces to help ensure we are continually trying to identify potential contaminants and then proactively working to eliminate, reduce, or control those contaminants.
Until we do, prevention is better than cure. Ensuring your employees go through respirator fit testing will guarantee they get the right-sized mask so they can avoid exposure to harmful airborne contaminants. If you’re looking for “respirator fit testing near me”, Act First Safety is here to help you. Contact us to learn more.
