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Mondcy, F.hruory 25,3985 PACIFIC BUSINE55 h+.w~ ~kdoor air pollution, poor ventilation hurtin ~ productivity of U.S. wor ~~ers ' ~ ~ h`EW YbRlC'- Poor veatu7ation and cigarette smoke aree the top au'-qualify problems that interfere with the produr- -tivity of of6ce, workers, according to a national survey conduaed by, Honeyweil Tccbnalysis. Poor veatiiatioa is a problem for 67'peccoat: ofthe people who say they have difficulty doing their work beeatue' of'the air quality in, their offices. Cigarette smoke bothers 54 per- cent of these workers and 53 percent feel improved air quality would make their'officrs more,productivc The Honeywell Teanalysis,survey polled a representative tiMPOlid!'LAirtTS a6"fAGCTFNE 80QY santple of 600 office workers; 18 years or older„ who work at . e os ; ..~o.. ,w4, ocaot teast 20 hours a week ia,aa of'fiac scuing in which five or mote,per5ons' are employed. Office workers complain of numerous respicatory prohk lerns: and'l pbysical! reaaionss from indoor' air pollution. I ~ /' }1R;Y~-~\, -1- ,.~.~m.. Punong ~. tnose aceu a3usc . u et{ueuur' uT. uuu.y.auuus .. ..u.,-, _ I I 1. ./~ I••o......o....o were tired or sIizpy feetings (56' percent), nasal congestion (45' 1 1 (~~)1' ;f~ 1'°~ "" prrcent), eye itritations (41 paeeat), breathing diffic'.tlties (40 1 1 11 ("~ ~.--.~ 1G"OiOYO°°' percent), and' headitches (39 percent)., [ 1 ' 1Tl, b6a- .1` I"- ""°"' -- •"The survey' raises warning, flags for managpment, and: health professionalt.,'• said James E.. Wood.s,: Ph:D:, senior staff scientist for Honeywell"s Corporate' Physical Sciences Center. "The findings warn managers that they risk losing worker prodiutivicy by reducing ventilation to cut, energy eosu'.. The impact reduced ventilation: has on air quality is being discovered by researchers; soicntists, and industry ex- perts. Office workers also are beginning to verbalize com- plaints about: air-quality issues. Twenty-f'our' percenc of, thox polled' say the air' quality rhere they worL• is "only fair" or even "'poor."P:nother 32 percent ratr the a'ir quality as "ezcellent:"'and 44 perc_at consider it •"good.•" + [.ighting and! temperature are the other top factors : that af fea , produ¢ivity. Potentially serious health issues:eaaizt for the 22 perccat of office workers who complain of! gas and!vapor fumes and the 19 percent who say they'breathe irritating, chemicais. such as formaJdehyde. , ••These uitimateiy, may be the most'dangerous polltuants,'• Wooaf3' said., "But maay' office workez undoulitedly area't even aware2hey're being;ezposed to them and of'the,health problems they may face." Common contaminants in addit'ion to formaldehyde in-, dude: carboa diowtide, asbestos', ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitro- gen dioside, and radon (a radioactive and inert gas found in ~oil). according to Woods. The sources of' these pollutantm are linked to office furnisnings andi equipment, fabria, appliane-s„ the groundi beneath buildings,, and,peop(e themsclves; Woods added: The Honeywell Techrtalysis survey also uncovered ani air- quality, getder gap.,Thiny-four perccntof'the womesbelicve the air' quality where they work is "only fair'• or "poor," but only 18' percent of the memshare that opinion. Sizty-6ve percent of the women say that correcting air'-quality prob- lemu will produce: higher producuvity; compared, with 47 percent of the men. This margin of dissatisfaction between women and mem may came from iignifieant differences in working condtionss reported: in the survcy. M'en arc much more likeiy to work in fully encloaed ofFues antl to have greater act»ess to w1n"ws;, snd h':.vc Zreacr mooiiity in of lices.