Improving Your Office’s Air Quality: What Can You Do?

Air quality in the office is something that is often overlooked, but breathing clean air is key to staying healthy, happy, and productive in the workplace.

Since air pollutants are invisible and we are unable to visually detect “dirty” (or impure) air from “clean” air (many air pollutants are also completely odorless, so we can’t rely on our noses, either!), it is very important to take precautionary measures and prevent air contamination from occurring in the first place.

Besides implementing proper ventilation, one of the first steps you can take towards purifying your office’s air is making sure that harmful chemicals are not being brought in to your workplace through the frequent use of commercial cleaning products. Cleaning solutions evaporate into the air instantly upon exposure— whether it’s a spray, a polish, or a wipe— and their chemical compounds continue to contaminate the air even long after they are used.  So, make sure the products that are being used to clean and sanitize your office (including the surfaces of your furniture and tables as well as the windows and computer screens) are all, first and foremost, non-toxic so that everyone can breathe easier!

Commercial cleaning products may be one of the most commonly heard of air pollutants out there, but another enormous source of air contamination that is not so well-known is actually office furniture, all by itself.  Even the most conventional office furniture, like swiveling chairs, are commonly constructed of toxic fibers and materials, or are blanketed in special furniture coatings and sealants, that can severely pollute the quality of air in your workplace.  These harmful chemical compounds found in our furniture can also omit toxic fumes (and again, sometimes they do not even have detectable aromas) into the air and are potentially very harmful to you and your employees’ health.  Just like the chemicals that make up most commercial cleaning products, these chemicals that are found in our furniture are often highly carcinogenic as well.

The article below from GreenBiz.com discusses the implications of chemically-toxic office furniture and sheds light on the positive action that has been taken towards stopping the manufacturing of such harmful office furniture materials.  Read on to learn more!