Indoor Air Quality, Explained
The air inside your home has a direct impact on how you live, breathe, and feel.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air inside homes and buildings and how it affects comfort and well-being. Because most people spend the majority of their time indoors, the air inside the home plays a significant role in everyday life.
Airborne particles and pollutants can come from both outside and inside the home, accumulating through normal daily activities. Understanding these basics helps explain why thoughtful air filtration and system design matter.
The 6 Most Common Indoor Air Quality Challenges
There are many indoor air quality challenges that face our world. Right this very second, it’s likely that you are challenged with one or many of them. In this guide, we’ll cover the 6 most common IAQ problems – the first step in solving your challenge. Select an option below to learn more.
Improve Health & Wellness
All of us want to live a long and healthy life without the risk of harm from ultrafine particles. But, it appears that unless we do something about it, we aren’t guaranteed the best quality air. According to the EPA “Decades of research have shown that air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter (PM) increase the amount and seriousness of lung and heart disease and other health problems.”
Many air pollutants come from the use of energy or the production of energy. Take a look around, what in your space is producing or using energy? This might give you an indicator of what is also, producing air pollutants.
Many wellness experts recommend air purifiers as a solution to everyday air pollution and to improve indoor air quality in any space. As a preventive measure, but also to create a well-rounded and healthy environment, you may want to consider a high-efficiency air purifier that can remove particulate matter at .3 micron or better.
Pre-Existing Symptoms or Conditions
While there are many pre-existing health conditions that may be exacerbated by poor indoor air quality – organizations such as the EPA and American Lung Association suggest that these conditions should take special consideration. To learn more about additional steps you should take, we recommend speaking to your physician.
We’re dedicated to helping find a true solution to improve indoor air conditions for people no matter what their current condition. Over the years, we’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of individuals who are affected by seasonal allergies and we’re proud to say our products have made an impact on many of them.
Occupational Health & Safety
Creating a healthier workplace not only protects employees but also reduces healthcare costs. OSHA reports that poor indoor air quality leads to 600 sick days per 1,000 workers each year. In response to concerns amplified by COVID-19, governments are introducing new IAQ standards—like New York’s HERO Act, designed to protect employees during airborne disease outbreaks.
Simple, affordable measures can often resolve most IAQ challenges—saving far more than the cost of ignoring them. As Harvard’s Joe Allen notes, “Healthy buildings aren’t expensive—sick buildings are.” Prioritizing clean air is an investment in health, productivity, and a safer future for all.
Mold & Mycotoxins
Mold is virtually everywhere—but excessive mold or spores can cause serious health issues. The CDC notes that sensitive individuals may experience symptoms like stuffy noses, wheezing, or itchy eyes, especially those with pre-existing conditions.
To address mold, start by treating the source—usually moisture or water damage—then increase ventilation and use air purification to reduce lingering spores. The CDC recommends maintaining 30–50% humidity and consulting a professional for proper remediation. An air purifier can help keep your air cleaner and healthier long-term.
Outdoor Conditions & Wildfires
Year after year, it appears that wildfires have expanded from seasonal phenomena to lengthy events. Many miles away from the source people are affected by the air pollution brought out by these wildfires. Furthermore, other outdoor conditions such as ozone and fossil fuel pollution contribute to a difficult problem.
Airborne Viruses
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a fundamental shift from focusing on protecting our buildings to the safety of our occupants. The health & safety of spaces has been at the forefront for all building operators as people navigate a new world. We know that many viruses are airborne and that increasing air exchange can help reduce the particle load in important spaces throughout our society.
Common Air Quality Terms
What is a PM sized particle?
PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.
PM10: inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller.
PM2.5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
How small is 2.5 micrometers? Think about a single hair from your head. The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle. If you’re interested in learning more about particulate matter (PM) pollution, click here.
What is a Micron?
A micron, also known as (µm), is a small unit of measurement that measures length. It is another name for micrometer, which is one-thousandth of a millimeter, or one-millionth of a meter. Airborne particles are usually described in microns.
Generally speaking, the human eye can see debris and dust that are approximately 25 microns in size. Particles smaller than 0.3 microns are considered to be ultrafine particles.
Ultrafine particles penetrate deep into the lungs. The concentration of these particles is higher, making them harder for the lungs to deal with, leading to inflammation. Ultrafine particles are small enough to enter the cells in the body and end up in the bloodstream, potentially causing heart and brain diseases. Children, elderly people, and people with lung problems like asthma are especially vulnerable to ultrafine particle air pollution.
What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or possibly years later.
What is Air Quality Index (AQI)?
Air Quality Index (AQI) refers to a standardized way to measure how clean or polluted the air is and how it may affect your health. You can think of it like a weather report for the air you breathe. AQI is calculated based on levels of common air pollutants, including fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These measurements are combined into a single number that shows whether the air is healthy or potentially harmful.
What does HEPA stand for?
HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” (filter). A HEPA filter is a mesh-like sheet of dense interwoven synthetic or glass fibers. True HEPA filters are rated to capture particles at an efficiency of 99.97% down to 0.3 microns in size.
When shopping for air purification it's important to do your research prior to making a purchase. A common misconception people have with HEPA filters is any air filter with the name HEPA in it is the same. People need to reconsider air purifiers that use the terms“HEPA-type” or “HEPA-like”. These terms are misleading, and these devices likely cannot remove particles as small as a “True HEPA” filter. There is no standard set in place for “HEPA-like” and “HEPA-type” products so this should set off an alarm that these filters don’t meet HEPA standards.
What is a MERV rating?
A MERV rating, also known as a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, reports a filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). This value is helpful in comparing the performance of different filters. The higher the MERV rating the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.
What is Ozone?
Ozone is a colorless, odorless reactive gas comprised of three oxygen atoms and is considered to be a lung irritant. It is produced indirectly by ion generators and some other air cleaners. When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation.
Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.Ozone should be considered a hazard to your health. Although ozone can be used in reducing odors and pollutants in unoccupied spaces, the levels needed to achieve this are above those generally thought to be safe for humans. Ozone has been found to negatively react with existing chemicals in the air to create additional toxic pollutants, most notably formaldehyde and ultrafine particles. This is why it's so important to do your research prior to purchasing an air purifier.
As part of HealthWay's mission to make the world a better, safer place we believe that air purifiers should not only perform well but they should also, be built right with rigorous standards like Intertek Zero Ozone. Many of our portable air purifiers are certified with the Zero Ozone Verification by Intertek and are part of the Intertek Sustainability program. You can find information about the certification by searching the Intertek Sustainability Directory.
What are VOCs?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that can be found in the products we use every day. This includes many household cleaning products, personal care products, building materials, and more. VOCs can have a major impact on our indoor air quality and can cause serious health effects in both the short and long term. These health effects can vary from minor eye, nose, and throat irritations all the way to liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage, depending on the level and length of exposure. Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors and once these chemicals are in our homes, they are released into the air we breathe. For more information on VOCs, click here.
What are Ultrafine Particles?
Ultrafine particles are particulate matter of nanoscale size (less than 0.1 μm or 100 nm in diameter). There are currently no regulations that exist for this size class of ambient air pollution particles, which are far smaller than the regulated PM10 and PM2.5 particle classes. Ultrafine particles penetrate deep into the lungs. The concentration of these particles is higher, making them harder for the lungs to deal with, leading to inflammation. Also, these particles are small enough to enter the cells in the body and end up in the bloodstream, potentially causing heart and brain diseases. Children, elderly people, and people with lung problems like asthma are especially vulnerable to ultrafine particle air pollution.