Why adding an air purifier to your office or study makes sense
When you think of equipment you would need to do office work (at home or in a company building) or make a comfortable place for studying, appliances like a computer, air conditioner, desk light and office chair and desk come to mind. But what about the air you’re breathing? If it’s not optimal, then your work or study may not be optimal. A detailed review was released this year, which examined data from 32 previous studies, 6 of which pertained to air quality’s effects on cognitive function. (Indoor environmental quality and the brain: A systematic review of physiological and neural evidence) These studies examined the effects of indoor pollutants such as CO₂, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM) on neural activity and cognitive functions, including attention, memory, decision-making, and sensory or emotional processing.
High CO2 levels reduce your decision-making ability: In a 2012 study, twenty-two participants were exposed to CO2 at 600 (baseline), 1,000, and 2,500 ppm in an office-like chamber, in six groups. Relative to baseline, at 1,000 ppm CO2, moderate and statistically significant decreases occurred in six of nine scales of decision-making performance. At 2,500 ppm, large and statistically significant reductions occurred in seven scales of decision-making performance, but performance on the focused activity scale increased. (Is CO2 an Indoor Pollutant? Direct Effects of Low-to-Moderate CO2 Concentrations on Human Decision-Making Performance)
CO2 has a modest effect on your brainwaves: In a 2021 study, subjects were monitored with an EEG (electroencephalogram), which records the electrical activity of the brain using small electrodes attached to the scalp, while CO2 levels in the room varied. The observed changes in brain waves were small but statistically significant, indicating that the practical impact of CO₂ on neural activity is modest (Integrated Approach to Evaluating the Effect of Indoor CO2 Concentration on Human Cognitive Performance and Neural Responses in Office Environment), .
High CO2 levels stress your body: In another study, exposure to elevated CO₂ levels (up to 3000 ppm) and bioeffluents (gaseous and particulate pollutants produced by human metabolism)was associated with physiological stress markers, such as elevated blood pressure. (Physiological responses during exposure to carbon dioxide and bioeffluents at levels typically occurring indoors)
High PM2.5 exposures affect your ability to plan, focus, organize and initiate tasks: In a study published in 2022, 90 young adults were monitored for PM2.5 exposure for 4 one-week sessions with portable monitors, then given EEG testing. Results using modeling demonstrated that elevated PM2.5 exposure three days prior to cognitive assessment was associated with executive dysfunction. (Short-term PM2.5 exposure and cognitive function: Association and neurophysiological mechanisms) Executive dysfunction is a disruption of the brain's management system, causing difficulties with planning, focusing, organizing, and initiating tasks.
High PM2.5 causes cognitive decline: In a large Chinese study during 2011-2015, a dose-response relationship was established between air pollution (measured by elevated levels of PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3) and cognitive function. Accordingly, cognitive function increased when air pollution decreased, the largest effect being with decreased PM2.5 levels. Reduction in O3 had no significant benefit in cognitive function protection. (Air quality improvement and cognitive function benefit: Insight from clean air action in China)
VOCs can affect your short-term memory: Finally, VOCs can influence brain activity during working memory, even in a short-term exposure.. A study of 22 college-age volunteers were exposed to paint VOCs and their responses to memory challenges were measured by EEG. All the subjects went through the working memory tasks in two environments: one was in a room with a high concentra-tion of VOCs, and another was in a normal room with low VOCs’concentration (low-VOCs) as control. The study showed that VOCs affect brain activity significantly more for simple memory tasks than complex memory tasks. It also indicated reduced attentional focus and increased mental fatigue. (Effects of indoor VOCs from paint on human brain activitiesduring working memory tasks: An electroencephalogram study)
In summary, yes, it’s a great idea to add an air purifier to your office or study space if you want to give your best effort and, even more importantly, avoid cognitive decline! Which purifier is best depends on your area’s most significant pollutants. Purchasing an air quality monitor first may let you know what your biggest problem is, but PM2.5 is a very common, and detrimental pollutant found in smog, dust and smoke. A HEPA filter will take care of PM2.5. If you can smell industrial or traffic smells, then there are VOCs as well, which require activated carbon to remove. Think about an air purifier investment for your office or study in this way: it will help you make better quality decisions, which translate into money saved or money earned, which can “pay back” the cost of the purifier quickly. This reasoning does not even touch the fact that these pollutants are having a bad effect on your health, which can also cost money to recover. So, an air purifier for your business or study? Yes, it’s a no-brainer!
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash
