Indoor air quality and your health at work

Published 27 October 2026

Indoor air quality and your health at work: what to know

We breathe thousands of litres of air each day, much of it indoors at work. Poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, fatigue, eye and throat irritation, worsen asthma and allergies, and reduce concentration — and it often goes unrecognised, with symptoms attributed to stress, tiredness or 'just one of those things'. The air is invisible, so its effects usually are too, until someone measures.

Common contributors include inadequate ventilation, dust and allergens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from furnishings, paints and cleaning products, humidity imbalances, mould, and contaminants from processes or outdoor pollution drawn inside. In many modern, sealed office buildings, the very efficiency that keeps temperature controlled can also trap and concentrate these contaminants if ventilation isn't well managed.

The effects are subtle but cumulative. A person may feel fine on a single day and progressively worse over a week in a poorly ventilated space, then recover away from it. This pattern — improving when away, worsening when present — is a strong clue that the building, not the person, is the issue. Carbon dioxide levels, often unmeasured, rise in under-ventilated rooms and measurably duller thinking.

An indoor air-quality assessment measures the key parameters — ventilation rate, carbon dioxide, common contaminants, temperature and humidity — and identifies practical improvements. Often the fixes are straightforward and inexpensive: better ventilation, source control (low-emission products, addressing damp), filtration, and adjusted maintenance routines. Measurement converts a vague discomfort into a clear, fixable problem.

Ventilation is the single most powerful lever. Bringing in more outside air, filtering recirculated air, and avoiding recirculation of contaminated air between spaces all reduce the buildup of pollutants. In the wake of airborne illness awareness, many buildings have already improved ventilation; maintaining those improvements protects against both everyday air-quality complaints and infectious disease.

Temperature and humidity matter too. Air that is too dry irritates airways and eyes; too humid encourages mould and dust mites. A moderate, stable range suits most people, supports comfort and reduces the conditions in which contaminants thrive. Individual discomfort with temperature is common and legitimate; persistent, building-wide problems warrant investigation rather than blame on 'sensitive' employees.

Good air quality is an investment in both health and productivity. People think more clearly, feel better and take fewer sick days when they can breathe easily. The intervention is rarely dramatic; it usually begins with measurement, followed by targeted, often modest changes. If your workplace has persistent air-quality complaints, ask for an assessment — the answer is almost always available, and so are the solutions.