The indoor air quality that many Canadians and international countries live in is relatively low.
According to a new Dyson study called the Global Connected Air Quality Data Project, Canada’s average indoor PM2.5 levels exceeded the World Health Organization’s long-term exposure guidance in every month of the year. On top of that, two-thirds of all countries studied had higher dangerous particle levels indoors compared to outdoors.
PM2.5 and VOC were the main air quality metrics studied through Dyson’s data. Dyson also collected information from 3.4 million Dyson Purifiers in 2022 and 2023. Over 100,000 were used in Canada.
PM2.5 particles are 1/25th smaller than a human hair (yes, that tiny). Meanwhile, VOCs are gas pollutants, including Benzene and Formaldehyde. These are often emitted through everyday use from cooking, cleaning, gas products, candles, and furniture.
So, let’s take a look at what this tech and data can tell us.
“On average around the world, winter was the most polluted season. In Canada overall, October was the most polluted, while Toronto follows the global trend with January being the most polluted month.”
” In an average 24-hour period, the most polluted time (PM2.5) fell between six p.m. and midnight.”
Dyson also points out in the study that the information is imperfect, and more data can be collected for accurate measures. It says that only 8% of its Purifiers were set to “auto” for three-quarters of their usage time. This is an essential note because this is the mode where the device can constantly monitor and adapt to changing pollution levels in the home.
And while colder months and longer indoor hours often occur in many parts of North America, the study shows that “Canada’s most disparate month was April, where indoor levels nearly doubled outdoor levels.”
Check out Dyson’s Global Connected Air Quality Data Project to dig further into the study.
