Abstract

Airborne contaminants pose health risks in office environments, where adults spend a significant portion of their day. We integrated data from global systematic reviews of contaminant sampling in office environments and applied a harm-based methodology using the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) metric. This approach quantifies the health impact of indoor air contaminants in offices. By examining the "cost per DALY" from literature on global north countries, we calculated the annual monetary costs due to exposure to selected priority contaminants in office buildings per 100,000 people. Results indicate that particulate matter (PM) is a major contributor, accounting for 62% of total costs. These findings underscore the importance of effective control strategies to reduce contaminant exposure. If control strategy costs for each contaminant are lower than the monetary costs associated to the harm (as DALYs) they cause, these strategies may serve as cost-effective interventions in offices. This study contributes to the ste of the art about the value of DALY-based harm metrics in guiding cost-effective interventions and improving indoor air quality in office buildings. Further research should investigate the broader implications of these findings and develop targeted interventions to enhance workplace health and safety in offices. © 2025 ASHRAE.