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COVID-19 and Lockdown: The Potential Impact of Residential Indoor Air Quality on the Health of Teleworkers

Author

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  • Ana Ferreira

    (Department of Environmental Health, Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic of Coimbra, Rua 5 de Outubro—São Martinho do Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Nelson Barros

    (UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

In addition to outdoor atmospheric contamination, indoor exposure to pollutants is a prime contributor to the overall human exposure, and may condition the expressiveness and severity of respiratory, cardiovascular, and allergic diseases. This situation has worsened due to COVID-19, as people have spent more time indoors to comply with social isolation and mandatory telework. The primary purpose of this study was to assess and compare indoor air quality (IAQ) in a significant sample of dwellings of workers from a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Portugal who were teleworking and their usual workplace. The levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde, particles with equivalent diameters of less than 10 μm, 5 μm, 2.5 μm, 1 μm, 0.5 μm, and 0.3 μm, and ultrafine particles, as well as the level of thermal comfort, were measured at both of the sites assessed. It was found that most of the houses studied, as well as the HEI, had good IAQ, although there were places where the concentrations of some pollutants were above the legal standards. On the other hand, a link was identified between the IAQ and the symptoms and diseases observed in the workers who participated in the study. These results offer the opportunity to make corrective interventions, thereby controlling the sources of pollutants and promoting better ventilation in order to reduce the risk for workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Ferreira & Nelson Barros, 2022. "COVID-19 and Lockdown: The Potential Impact of Residential Indoor Air Quality on the Health of Teleworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6079-:d:817253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Mehzabeen Mannan & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, 2021. "Indoor Air Quality in Buildings: A Comprehensive Review on the Factors Influencing Air Pollution in Residential and Commercial Structure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-25, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chih-Pei Hu & Jen-Hsiung Cheng, 2022. "Challenges and Actions of IAQ under COVID-19: A Survey of Taiwanese People’s Perception of Epidemic Prevention and Indoor Places Certification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez, 2023. "A Configurational Evaluation of Spanish Teleworkers’ Perception and Nonperception of Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Jorge De Andres-Sanchez & Angel Belzunegui-Eraso & Mar Souto-Romero, 2023. "Perception of the Effects of Working from Home on Isolation and Stress by Spanish Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, January.

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