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Controlled Humidity = Health Benefits | Measures for Employee Wellbeing | Improve Work Environment

Controlled Humidity = Health Benefits | Measures for Employee Wellbeing | Improve Work Environment

Intro

We could go on forever on how controlled humidity leads to overall productivity & quality for various industries (and we have), but we’ve yet to share the impact humidity levels have on our health. Let’s explore how controlling humidity in its various applications can have a direct correlation with the quality of living conditions and well-being of individuals.

Lost Control of Humidity Levels? Here’s What That Could Mean for you

Water is essential to life, so much so that 60% of us is water. This is why we are often told to drink half of our weight in ounces, daily. A lesser-known consumption method is the amount of water the air that we intake holds. This is also known as relative humidity and anything less than 30% is too dry, and anything above 70% is too wet.

Issues from Dryness

When the environment is too dry, we start to see physical side effects pretty early on. This includes:

Respiratory problems such as asthma or other allergies

Eye irritation

Throat & nose dryness

Mucus membrane affected- increased risk of viral infection such as influenza, rhinitis, and bronchial constriction

Issues from High Humidity

When the air carries a lot of water, the humidity levels can get very high. Humid air slows down the cooling process through evaporation which can lead to:

Discomfort

Exhaustion

Increased risk of stroke

Enhance Comfort & Environment: At Home or Work

As you can see, lack of humidity control comes with a hefty list of negative side effects. With the recent pandemic, increased risk of viral infection may have caught your eye. Unfortunately, we have to protect ourselves from many viruses out there besides COVID, like influenza and measles. According to the World Health Organization, up to 500,000 people die from the flu alone, every year.

Luckily, there is a solution to stop the spread of these viruses. Studies show that viruses, like influenza & measles, lose survivability/infectivity as soon as relative humidity exceeds 40%, up to 70%. Relative humidity below 30% is dangerous as it serves as a breeding ground for viruses to develop and transmit.

This method of maintaining relative humidity to 40%-70% does more than stopping the spread of viruses. We can see:

Significant decrease in likelihood of contracting a respiratory infection.

Limited development of allergens, mainly caused by mites & fungi.

Disabling of airborne chemicals that cause irritation and diseases.

What does this mean for your business? The overall wellbeing of employees should be, and often is, a priority in the workplace. Issues that arise from lack of humidity control directly impact the employees, thus impacting business efficiency. Creating a healthy work environment means less missed days, increased productivity, and even lowered health insurance costs.

Solution: Quality Humidification System

Controlling humidity levels is easier said than done, but AKIMist® E makes it simple. Our humidification system allows you to reach the relative humidity level customized to your needs. Contact us for more information.