Poor air quality means that there are pollutants in the air you breathe. These can range from visible pollution such as smoke and dust to invisible pollutants such as carbon monoxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter.
Governments use the Air Quality Index (AQI) to assess and monitor air quality. This index provides an indication of air quality by measuring various pollutants and comparing them with established standards.
Although air quality in Belgium is generally improving, a large portion of the population is still exposed to air quality levels that exceed the air quality levels set by the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
There are clear regional differences: Exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone is the highest in the Flanders, the Brussels Capital Region, and Wallonia, respectively.
Belgium is performing relatively poorly compared with other European countries in terms of air quality for most of the pollutants studied.
Poor air quality has significant consequences nonetheless: Exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone contributes substantially to health problems and premature deaths.
Air quality is often poorer indoors than outdoors. Indoor spaces are often under-ventilated so harmful substances such as CO, formaldehyde, other solvents and particulate matter can accumulate to unhealthy concentrations.
When inhaled, polluted air enters your lungs through your nose and mouth. Gases and particulate matter dissolve into the bloodstream through the alveoli and spread throughout your body. Your liver and kidneys process the chemical substances and ultimately remove them.
Chemical substances can cause various health effects. Such effects are sometimes acute, e.g. ammonia and carbon dioxide which can disrupt breathing almost immediately.
Most substances however do not have an immediate effect, but tend to cause serious conditions over time such as respiratory problems, asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s, hearing loss, impaired vision, paralysis, brain damage, dementia, cancer, leukaemia and organ failure.
Since symptoms often develop gradually and are frequently mistaken for signs of aging, they are rarely linked to inhaling chemical fumes.
Fortunately, you do not have to sit back and fold your arms: you can in fact measure air quality and take action yourself for a healthier indoor air, thereby reducing the impact of poor air quality on health.
At Arizo we specialise in the assessment of air quality at the office, the workplace and at home.