According to a number of national organizations - including the American Lung Association, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency - air pollution in indoor settings, including offices, may be more of a health concern than air pollution outside.

Breathing air pollutants can contribute to allergies, infections, asthma and other health problems that involve the lungs, nose and throat. For example, mold and pollen spawning from indoor air pollutants can trigger allergic reactions or asthmatic symptoms for some people. A more dramatic example of a dangerous air pollutant is high levels of carbon monoxide - which can result in headaches, nausea, vomiting, brain damage and even death.

While indoor air pollutants are defined as substances trapped inside, these pollutants could also come from outside of the office, such as an idling car engine or a delivery truck near an open window, doorway or air handling unit.

Here are sometips on what employers can do to improve the indoor air quality in the office:

• Water and maintain office plants properly
• Establish an effective smoking policy that protects nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke
• Work with building management and a contractor before you remodel or renovate to identify ways of minimizing employee exposure to pollutants
• Install an air filtration system or a UV lighting system to remove allergens and deliver cleaner air regularly throughout the workspace

To learn more about how you can maintain a high-quality indoor environment at work or at home, call David Gray Heating & Air at (904) 467-0784.