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High CO2 levels in ‘every third office’

Suffering from headaches and tiredness in the afternoon? If you work in an office carbon dioxide levels could be to blame, as new research suggests that one in three Austrian offices have high levels of CO2 and are too dry.

Published: 1 October 2014 17:07 CEST

High CO2 levels in 'every third office'

Photo: APA

Thomas Schlatte from MeineRaumluft.at said that 500 companies across Austria participated in the study, from small firms to large corporations.

The study found that during the cold season, when offices are heated, CO2 levels are above 1,000 ppm in every third office.

There is no legal limit for carbon dioxide in offices, which is released during breathing.

Schlatte said that in general, levels above 1,500 ppm make it difficult to concentrate and can cause headaches. One in ten offices were found to have levels over 1,500 ppm.

The study also found that the risk of getting respiratory infections and having to take sick leave rose with CO2 levels.

More than one third of offices had less than 30 percent humidity. "This is dramatically exacerbated in the heating season," Schlatte said.

Recommended humidity values are between 40 and 60 percent, and with air conditioning 70 percent. The more humid the air is, the less susceptible people are to infectious diseases.

An office temperature above 25 degrees will make workers feel more tired, and the ideal temperature is between 20 and 22 degrees.

House plants can help improve the office environment by filtering pollutants in the air and restoring humidity, according to environmental consultant Manuela Lanzinger. She recommended three to six large houseplants for an office measuring 30 square metres.

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What do you do in Austria if your nearest pharmacy is closed?

In Austria Apotheken (pharmacies) are the only places in which you can purchase painkillers and decongestants. Ostensibly in the public interest, but it’s also a lucrative moneymaker for the businesses. This monopoly on the sale of certain pharmaceutical drugs is a subject frequently debated and is of much consternation for overseas arrivals.

READ MORE: Why are painkillers only sold in pharmacies in Austria?

However, many Apotheken can close as early as six pm, especially if you live outside a major city centre. If you’re suffering from a cold or a nasty headache, it can seem like an eternity until they reopen.

Fortunately, there is relief. Emergency situations will always arise, and pharmacies often band together to provide service at nights, over weekends and on public holidays.

This is done on a rota basis, so your local Apotheke may not be open, there will be a Apotheken-Notdienst (Emergency-service pharmacy) within a 5 – 10km range.

Often, Apotheken will have a sign or screen out the front that gives the address and opening times for Apotheken-Notdienst in the area, updated frequently.

A number of websites also exist that can give you the location of operating Apotheken-Notdienst across Austria, such as APO24.at. Entering your PLZ (or postcode) will list the nearest to you.

However, if they don’t have online access, dialling 1455 while put you in touch with a service who can either direct you to the Apotheken-Notdienst on duty, or help you in getting you further assistance.

If all else fails, your local hospital should have a Notfall-Praxis – ostensibly an emergency doctor service out of hours. If you’re prepared to wait, you will be able to see a doctor, and they can either dispense medication, or direct you to the hospital pharmacy with a prescription.

Before you go, it’s worth brushing up on your vocabulary. The Local has developed a list of vocabulary and phrases that you can use to describe your symptoms to pharmacists and doctors, to help them prescribe the best possible medication.

READ MORE: Colds and flu: What to say if you get sick in Austria

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