A new air quality survey of UK working industrial areas has found pollution levels to be on average 63 times higher than in public spaces such as bus and train stations. The assessments, carried out by Zehnder Clean Air Solutions, show how UK production workers are being left to breathe dangerously polluted air every day, putting them at risk of serious harm to their health.
Image Credit: Zehnder Clean Air Solutions
Particulate Matter (commonly abbreviated as PM) refers to a mixture of tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air. These particles can include dust, dirt, soot and smoke, as well as microscopic liquid droplets. PM is categorized based on size, with PM2.5 representing finer particles of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.
These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This poses significant health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues. PM is very present in industrial workplaces, created by a range of different processes, such as welding, grinding, cutting and even the movement of people in a facility.
Zehnder Clean Air Solutions measured the level of these PM2.5 particles at a range of industrial production areas, such as metal fabrication sites, bakeries, and packaging production lines. It compared the readings to their respective offices, as well as public places such as transport hubs, supermarkets, and schools. The shocking findings show that indoor air quality – especially in industrial workplaces – is often grossly overestimated.
Off the Charts
Concerningly, industrial production area readings for PM2.5 were extremely high; 63x higher than that of all the public spaces reviewed.
The average PM2.5 reading for industrial production areas was also:
- 8x higher than train stations
- 87x higher than in supermarkets/shopping centers
- 92x higher than at bus stations
For a more detailed breakdown, refer to Table 1 in the Notes to Editors
Even within industrial businesses, there is a notable difference in the level of pollutants in production lines or shopfloors and the back-office environment. There is a clear disparity, with production workers breathing air that is 34x more polluted than office workers.
Given these office workers are somewhat sheltered from the worst of polluted air, and there is no legislation in the UK forcing good air quality standards within workplaces, factory workers will continue to remain victims of dangerously polluted air – unless we take immediate action.
Health Concerns
The dangers of PM exposure are well documented. The UK Government even names poor air quality as the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK. These tiny PM2.5 particles, over thirty times finer than a human hair, can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to serious health problems including:
- Respiratory issues
- Cardiovascular problems
- Cancer
- Increased risk of death
- Cognitive decline
- Worsening of pre-existing conditions
For more detail on health risks, please see the Notes to Editors.
Ben Simons, Head of Zehnder Clean Air Solutions Europe West says: “The UK has put in a huge amount of effort to create public spaces with clean air. It has recognized the dangers of inhaling pollutants and taken meaningful steps to reduce them. Yet, its factory floors and production hubs – where workers spend all day, every day – continue to expose UK employees to serious harm. The levels of exposure are almost off the charts. We urgently need UK employers to understand how important it is to provide clean air at work. Doing so dramatically improves the quality of life for employees, reduces risks to health, and enhances the running of their businesses.”
We cannot afford to ignore this silent crisis. Workers are the backbone of UK industries, yet they are being left to breathe dangerously polluted air every day, with devastating consequences for their health. Zehnder Clean Air Solutions is urging employees, employers and policymakers to take immediate action by assessing their workplace air quality or joining the #CleanTheUnseen initiative to ensure safer, healthier conditions for all.