Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are no longer considered a place for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They have now been transformed into complex organizations playing a major developmental role in society.
Therefore, it is important for the medical sector to pay exclusive attention to indoor air quality in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
According to a study, nearly 5% of patients develop sickness while they are in the hospital, and long exposure to indoor air quality can cause irreversible damage to their health.
In the past, indoor air quality in hospitals and other healthcare facilities has posed significant health risks for patients, workers, and visitors.
The presence of air contaminants in the hospital’s environment is mainly from different healthcare activities and products used.
Hospitals and other facilities treat patients with different diseases that can be triggered due to contaminated air quality.
Moreover, healthcare organizations also have a complex environment. Therefore, special attention to optimizing indoor air quality is paramount to creating a protective shield for patients and the staff.
CONTAMINANTS LEADING TO POOR AIR QUALITY IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS
Generally, there are two sources of contaminants that lead to the degradation of indoor air quality in hospitals and other healthcare facilities – indoor and outdoor contaminants, and the former one is a major contributor.
Chemical contaminants are one of the sources of poor indoor air quality in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and radon are common indoor chemical contaminants found in hospitals.
Moreover, as mentioned earlier, volatile organic compounds are also present in hospital environments in the form of gases emitted from different products.
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), volatile organic compounds are ten times more concentrated in the indoor environment, and long-term exposure can lead to multiple health effects, including allergic reactions, dizziness, nausea, and many others.
Some of the cleaning supplies used in the hospitals also contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as paints, scents, and other fragrances used in cleaning chemicals.
A research study by the National Academy of Sciences estimates that more than 90% of ingredients in scents and fragrances are obtained from petroleum.
These extracted ingredients have extremely dangerous substances like toluene, benzene derivatives, and acetone.
Biological contaminants are also typical to the healthcare environment, and these include virus particles, mold, and bacteria.
Water that has been gradually piled up in air ducts, ventilation drain pans, and the ceiling is the main breeding ground for contaminated air particles. Biological contaminants also include airborne virus particles that lead to hospital-acquired diseases.
Measles, tuberculosis, COVID-19 and other similar health conditions are highly transmissible for they can travel in the air through tiny respiratory droplets and aerosols.
POOR VENTILATION ALSO LEADS TO THE DEGRADATION OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN HOSPITALS
Ventilation systems are one of the most important aspects of any indoor setting, specifically hospitals where the air is highly polluted. However, the importance of adequate ventilation is often overlooked.
Hospitals with poor ventilation setups are highly susceptible to developing diseases caused by airborne virus transmission. It does not only have serious health impacts, but it also significantly affects the productivity and concentration levels of workers.
The installation of proper ventilation systems is paramount for it circulates the fresh air into the environment and dilutes the concentration of contaminated air particles.
WHY A HOSPITAL AIR PURIFIER IS A SOLUTION TO CREATING A SAFE BREATHING ENVIRONMENT
Hospital air purifiers are important for a reason. Due to the presence of volatile organic compounds, toxic gases and other biological contaminants, it is important to purify the air to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections and increase productivity levels of the healthcare staff.
Hospital-grade air purifiers support ventilation and filter the air by diluting the concentration of airborne contaminants and capturing allergens, odor and dust particles.
Increased levels of humidity can be a breeding ground for dust, allergens and mold. These contaminants can trigger symptoms in asthma patients.
A hospital air purifier featuring a HEPA filter effectively captures small particles and filters the air with more than 99 per cent of efficiency through its multi-layered fibreglass meshes.
As a result, hospitals are able to create a safe breathing environment for every patient and visitor.
A hospital-grade air purifier also efficiently minimizes the risk of toxic chemical gases in the hospital environment, and radon is one of them.
It is a radioactive, colorless gas found in healthcare organizations, and according to EPA, it is a leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters effectively capture the gas particles, protecting the environment from toxic emissions.
Hospital air purifiers also mitigate the risk of airborne virus transmission. In times of the pandemic, indoor air quality in hospitals and other healthcare organizations has become a major concern.
COVID-19 is airborne, which means it travels via aerosols and respiratory droplets and can hang in the air for long. As a consequence, the risk of virus transmission in a healthcare setting is at an all-time high.
Air purifiers with a HEPA filter are recommended by CDC to reduce the risk of transmission.
AIRAH, as well as the Infection Control and Operating Theatre Practices Special Technical Group (STG), have also rolled out numerous recommendations as part of mitigation strategies for operating theatres to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, including multiple HVAC measures.
Conclusively, an Industrial air purifier is important to purify the air from contaminants and reduce the risk of virus transmission in such a complex environment.
Euromate Pure Air’s VisionAir Blue Line or Pure Air Shield 3300 are ideal options on the market for they feature robust efficiency to capture even the smallest particles.
EUROMATE PURE AIR’S VISIONAIR BLUE LINE TACKLES INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN HOSPITALS
Suitable for medium and large settings, VisionAir Blue Line is a new-generation air cleaner with a made-to-measure plug & play feature.
The air purifier is ideal for healthcare organizations for it filters 99% of the air, ensuring a safe environment free from pollutants.
It also features a HEPA filter to achieve maximum efficiency and protection against airborne viruses such as COVID-19.
The new generation air cleaner features seven unique filter combinations and eight versions to choose from.
The combination of filters enables healthcare organizations to selectively target different pollution areas such as odor, dust, smoke and bacteria.
Our VisionAir Blue Line is a suitable fit for every interior with its sleek design. Moreover, it is user-friendly and has quiet operation to avoid any disruptions in the hospital environment.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Air purifiers are important for hospitals to filter the air. VisionAir Blue Line is specifically engineered to tackle indoor air pollution in medium to large healthcare settings with 99% efficiency.