Indoor Air Quality and Health Outcomes in Employees Working from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has a substantial impact on public health. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more employees have worked remotely from home to minimize in-person contacts. This pilot study aims to measure the difference in workplace IAQ before and during the pandemic and its impact on employees’ health. The levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and total volatile organic chemicals (tVOC) were measured in the employees’ offices before the COVID-19 pandemic and at homes while working from home during the pandemic using Foobot air monitors. The frequencies of six sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms were evaluated at each period of monitoring. The result showed PM2.5 levels in households while working from home were significantly higher than in offices while working at the office for all participants (p < 0.05). The PM2.5 levels in all households exceeded the health-based annual mean standard (12 µg/m3), whereas 90% of offices were in compliance. The tVOC levels were all below the standard (500 µg/m3). We also found a higher frequency of SBS symptoms were observed while working from home as the IAQ was worse at home. This study suggested that working from home might have a detrimental health impact due to poor IAQ and providing interventions to remote employees should be considered.

Insights on Air Pollution During COVID-19: A Review

“…Further, this study suggests that highly touched areas have a quite high number of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to the least touched area. The indoor air quality severely degraded during the lockdown period resulting in negative health effects in South Texas during (May–July 2019) (Roh et al 2021 ). Further, this study suggests the office is more safer compared to home in South Texas, USA during the lockdown period on account of lower PM 2.5 and total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs).…”

Evaluating Occupant Feedback on Indoor Air Quality Perception During Covid Stay-at-home Using Social Media Data: A Nationwide Study in the U.S.

“…HVAC systems are generally designed to maintain the temperature, humidity, and contaminant levels within the standard range, therefore, modifying them to function under longer periods during the pandemic involved in lower efficiency and higher operation and maintenance costs [18]. Installing filters within the air-intake pathways can limit the penetration of outdoor particles toward indoor [19]. The high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers could facilitate providing clean air environment for occupants with acceptable HVAC-operation performance [20]; however, they can partially protect the virus transport toward indoors.…”

Assessing the indoor air quality and their predictor variable in 21 home offices during the Covid-19 pandemic in Norway

“…Roth et al [ 17 ] showed that working from home may cause health effects due to poor home IAQ and a higher prevalence of reported Sick building syndrome (SBS). Yang et al studied 169 energy-efficient dwellings, reporting that 90% and 50% of dwellings exceeded the chronic exposure limits for formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) [ 18 ].…”