The majority of UAE residents are concerned about air quality in their homes and have taken preliminary measures to optimise it in the last year, according to Dyson’s indoor air quality (IAQ) awareness survey, conducted in collaboration with YouGov in the UAE
However, an alarmingly few are aware of potentially dangerous airborne pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde - an invisible and common indoor pollutant that can be released daily into our homes by furniture and cleaning products.
While 84% have taken proactive measures to protect the air quality of their homes since the outbreak of COVID-19, only 33% of respondents are aware of the harmful pollutants introduced into their homes through decorating items and refurbishing materials, which is particularly crucial to highlight with many people having used the past year to remodel their homes and home retailers reporting an increase in sales of paint and wallpaper during the lockdown.
Furthermore, the Dyson/YouGov survey showed that only a third of respondents are aware of formaldehyde and of the long-term adverse health effects of continuous exposure to it .
Dr Iyad Al-Attar, a regional air filtration expert, speaking at a Dyson event, said, “Clearly, spending up to 90% of our time indoors puts us at a greater health risk. Frequent exposure to a high concentration of pollutants can weaken the immune system and compromise its ability to respond to infections. It is, therefore, crucial to monitor our indoor air quality and identify the internal sources of contaminants ailing indoor air quality.”
Alex Knox, vice-president of environmental care at Dyson, said, “The off-gassing tendency of indoor pollutants like formaldehyde means that it can go undetected in a home for years. Every day, humans breathe up to 9,000 litres of air, and even prior to 2020 spent as much as 90% of their time indoors.”
While results of the Dyson/YouGov survey show a need for greater IAQ understanding, it also showcases a positive shift in consumer behaviour towards IAQ. In fact, three in four respondents indicated that they would “feel safer” having real time monitoring of IAQ in their homes, workplaces, and in commercial spaces such as hotels and salons, showing an interest in the air we breathe each day.
