Posted on: November 30, 2022
What is Relative Humidity
Relative humidity (RH) is the maximum amount of water vapour that air can hold at its current temperature. Thus, RH at 35 degrees Celsius will not be the same as the RH for 20 degrees Celsius.
Air can hold varying degrees of humidity. Once it gets to 100%, it has reached dew point and water droplets starts to form on surfaces.
Relative Humidity in indoor environments may be affecting your health.
As published in the Environmental Health Perspective Journal (National Library of Medicine: PMC1474709) experimental studies and research on regulated humidity levels found the number of respiratory infections to be lower in homes and working environments that had mid versus those in low or high range humidity percentages.
How does humidity have an indirect hand at one’s health?
The indoor size of allergenic mite and fungal populations is directly dependent upon the relative humidity. Mite populations are minimized when the relative humidity is below 50% and reach a maximum size at 80% relative humidity.
Most species of fungi cannot grow unless the relative humidity exceeds 60%. Relative humidity also affects the rate of off gassing of formaldehyde from indoor building materials, the rate of formation of acids and salts from sulphur and nitrogen dioxide, and the rate of formation of ozone.
The influence of relative humidity on the abundance of allergens, pathogens, and noxious chemicals suggests that indoor relative humidity levels should be considered as a factor of indoor air quality.
The majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%
How to combat humidity levels?
- Stay hydrated
- If you feel fatigued, take a moment to cool off
- Open your windows to improve air circulation
- Turn on your air conditioner
- Depending on your needs, purchase a humidifier or dehumidifier
You can shop for both a humidifier and dehumidifiers at our e-shop.
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