Risk of poisoning of office workers

The air in buildings and offices is "problematic" with the amount of microorganisms as well as some volatile organic compounds exceed the permitted level.

At offices, buildings, the risk of inhaling dust, cigarette smoke . those working here are also at risk of inhaling volatile organic compounds including formaldehyte, benzene, toluene, acetone. . These substances are caused by office equipment such as photocopiers, printers, furniture, wall paint, detergents . They are the cause of headaches, discomfort .

Dirty cleanliness

Mr. Ngo Quoc Khanh, Environmental Technology Department, Center for Environmental Science & Sustainable Development, Institute of Science and Technology Research, Labor Protection, said that he and his colleagues have just completed the project: "Investigation and beating real situation of labor environment quality and workers' health at buildings and offices ". For specific data, the expert team conducted surveys in 6 companies in 4 buildings based in Hanoi. The common feature of these buildings is the closed design, representing the current design of high-rise buildings with central air conditioning, workers who have high educational and professional qualifications, age of mutual for young people.

Office tables and chairs are the cause of pollution.

"As Vietnam does not have any standards / guidelines for air quality in the office, the group implementing the topic has compared it with some foreign standards / guidelines and found that the noise has exceeded. However, the factors of microbiology and volatile compounds are determined to be the most influential factor to the health of office workers , " said Quoc Khanh said.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include various substances such as formaldehyte, benzene, toluene, acetone . These substances arise from various sources such as office equipment (printers, computers). , photocopiers .), tables and chairs, detergents .

MSc Ngo Quoc Khanh explained, usually in buildings, offices, to clean the environment, people often carry out cleaning floors, desks. However, few people know that these cleaners are the source of environmental pollution. In addition, buildings and offices tend to use industrial wood furniture that uses adhesives, paints, etc., which are significant sources of VOCs in the office environment.

Headache, fatigue, confusion

Experts say that frequent and prolonged contact with VOCs will seriously affect the health of people living and working in buildings and offices. Because VOCs are substances that are able to dissolve blood fat and are easily absorbed through the lungs, through the blood into the brain causing central nervous system depletion, fatigue, drowsiness and discomfort. .

Pollutants and sources arising in buildings and offices

Studies also show that the effects of VOCs on human health at different levels cause different hazards. For example, if at 3 , there is no feeling, at 0.2 - 3.0mg / m ³ causing discomfort and irritation, at 3.0 - 25mg / m ³ causes headaches and mild inflammatory reactions,>> 25mg / m ³ causes neurotoxicity (mental illness, fatigue, confusion .).

Assessing the impact of VOCs in buildings and offices shows that the concentration of VOCs in buildings is different. There are places at 7,065mg / m ^{3 that} cause headaches and mild inflammatory reactions, where another is 5.83mg / m ³ causes headaches and mild inflammatory reactions. This study also shows, at the same building but in different rooms, levels and levels of VOCs contamination. For example, in the same building, but in the office of volume, VOCs of 0.83mg / m ³ are uncomfortable and irritating.

These results show that, in buildings, offices, VOCs have health effects and can cause headaches and mild inflammatory reactions of workers.