18-Oct-2021 | Market Research Store
According to a study conducted at the Public Health School of Harvard University, the productivity, as well as cognition of the employees in a workplace, depends upon the air quality in that workplace. Based on the quality of the air circulating in the office, the way of the response of colleagues, their ability to concentrate, and their rate of productivity vary.
A study unveiled that the burgeoning concentrations of freely suspended fine particulate matter of the size of 2.5 Microns (PM2.5) and reduced ventilation rates are associated with the sluggish response of the participants working in offices. The investigators observed a significant reduction in the cognitive performance at PM2.5 and increased CO2 concentrations, which are prevalent in indoor contexts.
Jose Guillermo Cedeo Laurent, the primary author of the study, stated that low respiration rates had a detrimental effect on cognitive performance. The findings concluded that poor indoor air quality has a far greater impact on both productivity and health than anticipated.
The research team enlisted over 300 employees working in offices that are established in different cities of China, India, Mexico, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the US to better comprehend the concern. The workers, who opted for this study, were 18 to 65 Years old. Environmental sensors were installed in each workstation to monitor PM2.5 and CO2 levels.
Apart from monitoring, there were two sorts of tests conducted. In one test, the researchers asked employees to accurately identify the color of the displayed text to measure cognitive speed and inhibitory control. In the second test, the team assessed the cognitive speed by engaging them in solving simple arithmetic tasks.
The study discovered that with the increase in PM2.5 and CO2 levels, response times for the color-based test were slower. However, the study found that by increasing CO2 levels but not PM2.5, the reaction times of the participants in the arithmetic-based exam were shorter. The participants answered fewer items correctly as the amounts of both contaminants increased.
At present, the world is dealing with the COVID-19 situation, and everyone is focusing on solutions such as improved ventilation and filtration. This study indicates that regulating atmospheric conditions helps extend the cognitive function and productivity of workers.
Read also: