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Indoor Air Quality Matters: Simple Steps to Breathe Better This Winter

  • BeWellAdmin
  • 2 minutes ago
  • 5 min read
Image Credit: Envato.com
Image Credit: Envato.com

When winter arrives, we close windows, seal drafts, and spend increasingly more time indoors. That's a reasonable response to cold weather, but it creates a different problem. Indoor air quality declines significantly when ventilation decreases, and that decline matters more than most students realize.


The connection between indoor air and health has gained attention since respiratory virus transmission became a public conversation. But air quality affects more than just infection risk. It influences concentration, sleep quality, headaches, and general comfort—all things students care about, especially during demanding academic periods.


Why Ventilation Matters for Respiratory Virus Transmission


Environment and Climate Change Canada explains that one important approach to reducing airborne virus transmission is improving ventilation—essentially bringing in more outdoor air and exhausting stale indoor air. When someone infected with a respiratory virus breathes, talks, or coughs indoors, viral particles can accumulate in the air. Better ventilation dilutes that concentration, reducing the likelihood that others will inhale enough viral particles to become infected.


This isn't theoretical. Research during the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed what public health experts had long understood: well-ventilated spaces have lower transmission rates. The principle applies to influenza, common colds, and other airborne pathogens as well.


Winter creates a perfect storm for poor indoor air: windows stay closed, heating systems recirculate existing air, and people spend more time in enclosed spaces. The combination means viral particles can accumulate to higher concentrations than during warmer months when windows are open and people spend more time outdoors.


Beyond Viruses: Other Indoor Air Concerns


Respiratory viruses aren't the only indoor air issue. Poorly ventilated spaces can accumulate carbon dioxide (from human breathing), which at elevated levels contributes to drowsiness and reduced cognitive function—not ideal for studying. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products, air fresheners, and building materials can cause headaches and irritation. Mold and mildew thrive in poorly ventilated, damp environments. Dust and allergens accumulate faster when air isn't circulating.


Research on indoor environmental quality has documented connections between ventilation rates and cognitive performance. Students working in well-ventilated spaces tend to perform better on cognitive tests than those in stuffy environments—a finding with obvious implications for study spaces and exam rooms.


Simple Ventilation Improvements for Student Spaces


You probably don't control your building's HVAC system, but you can take meaningful steps to improve air quality in spaces you occupy.


  1. Open Windows Strategically


Even in winter, brief window opening can significantly improve air exchange. You don't need windows open all day—even 5 to 10 minutes of cross-ventilation (opening windows on opposite sides of a room to create airflow) can refresh indoor air substantially. The EPA recommends this approach as one of the simplest ventilation improvements available.


Practical timing: Open windows while you're bundled up studying, then close them before you leave. Open windows after cooking, showering, or having guests over. Open windows during the warmest part of the day when the temperature difference is smallest. Even cracking a window slightly during study sessions provides some fresh air exchange.


  1. Use Fans to Direct Airflow


A basic box fan can significantly improve air circulation. Position a fan near an open window to either pull fresh air in or push stale air out. Creating directional airflow moves air that would otherwise stagnate. Ceiling fans or standing fans also help circulate air within a room, preventing pockets of still air from accumulating pollutants or viral particles.


  1. Consider a Portable Air Cleaner


For rooms where opening windows isn't practical (windowless spaces, extreme cold, outdoor air pollution), portable air cleaners with HEPA filters can help. The EPA notes that these devices can reduce airborne particles including some virus-carrying aerosols. Look for units with true HEPA filters rated for your room size. Avoid ionizers or ozone generators, which can create other air quality problems.


Air cleaners aren't magic—they work best as one component of a broader air quality strategy, not as a substitute for ventilation. But in a small dorm room or bedroom, a properly sized HEPA air cleaner can make a meaningful difference, especially during peak illness seasons.


Shared Living Spaces: Coordination Matters


If you live with housemates, air quality becomes a shared responsibility. Common areas like kitchens and living rooms benefit from ventilation attention, especially when multiple people are present or when someone is sick.


Consider house ground rules: Run the bathroom exhaust fan during and after showers to reduce humidity and prevent mold. Use the kitchen range hood or open a window when cooking, especially with high-heat methods that generate smoke or fumes. Keep bedroom doors open when practical to allow air circulation between rooms. If someone in the house is sick with a respiratory illness, increase ventilation in shared spaces and consider having the sick person isolate in their room with a window cracked if possible.


Debunking the Houseplant Myth


You may have seen claims that houseplants clean indoor air. The reality is more disappointing: while plants can absorb small amounts of certain pollutants under laboratory conditions, the effect in real-world homes is negligible. You would need an unrealistic number of plants to make a measurable difference in air quality.


Houseplants have other benefits—they can improve aesthetics, humidity, and mental wellbeing—but air purification isn't one of them. If you want cleaner air, focus on ventilation and filtration rather than adding more spider plants.


Recognizing Poor Air Quality


Sometimes you can feel when air quality is poor, even without measurement devices. Signs that your indoor environment might need attention include: persistent stuffiness or staleness that doesn't resolve; headaches that improve when you go outside; difficulty concentrating in specific spaces; visible condensation on windows (indicating high humidity and poor air exchange); musty or stale odors; and excessive dust accumulation.


If you notice these signs, try increasing ventilation before assuming the problem is something else. Often, opening windows and improving airflow resolves symptoms that might otherwise be attributed to stress, poor sleep, or other causes.


Air Quality in Study Spaces


Where you choose to study matters for air quality. Some considerations: Libraries and campus buildings with modern HVAC systems generally have better ventilation than older buildings. Spaces with higher ceilings have more air volume, diluting pollutants. Crowded spaces (busy library floors, packed study rooms) accumulate CO2 and viral particles faster. Spaces near kitchens or bathrooms may have odors and humidity issues. Outdoor study spaces, when weather permits, offer the best air quality—consider studying outside or near open windows when possible.


During peak illness seasons, ventilation quality should factor into where you spend extended time. A well-ventilated study space isn't just more comfortable—it may reduce your infection risk and support better cognitive function.


The Connection Between Air and Mood


Fresh air isn't just a figure of speech for feeling refreshed. Research suggests connections between indoor air quality and psychological wellbeing. Stuffy, poorly ventilated spaces can contribute to fatigue and irritability. Natural light and fresh air exposure are both associated with improved mood—making window opening a two-for-one intervention during dark winter months.


This is part of why the advice to "get some fresh air" when you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed has merit. A brief walk outside or even standing near an open window for a few minutes can provide both a mental break and literal fresh air that supports clearer thinking.


Practical Winter Air Quality Routine


Building air quality awareness into your routine doesn't require elaborate systems. A simple approach: Open bedroom windows briefly each morning while you get ready. Ventilate after cooking or showering. Open windows in study spaces when you arrive, even just for a few minutes. If you have an air cleaner, run it during sleep and study sessions. Notice how spaces feel and adjust ventilation accordingly.


The goal isn't perfect air quality measurement—it's creating habits that improve air exchange and reduce the staleness that characterizes winter indoor environments. Small, consistent actions compound into meaningfully better air over the semester.


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