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The air inside office buildings is a source of toxic substances
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists report that indoor office air is a significant source of potentially toxic substances from carpeting, furniture, paint and other items. The report, in which scientists linked levels of so-called polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in office air and workers' blood, is published in the journal ACS - Environmental Science & Technology.
Study author Michael McClean and colleagues explain that polyfluorinated compounds used in water-repellent coatings on carpets and furniture can have adverse effects on human health. Scientists know that potential sources of these substances include food, water, indoor air, dust, and direct contact with PFCs contained in these objects. But the relationship between air and blood levels had not been previously studied. So a team of researchers led by McClean decided to fill this gap by studying 31 workers in Boston.
They found that the concentration of fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) in the air of office buildings was 3-5 times higher than previously reported, thus proving that office cubicles are a serious source of negative impact on workers' health. In addition, the study showed a strong relationship between the concentrations of FTOH in the air and perfluorooctanoic acid (a metabolite of FTOH) in the blood of office workers. The results of the study also suggest that workers in newly renovated office buildings may receive significantly higher doses of FTOH than workers in older buildings.
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