[daniel1212]

Only excerpt allowed, and note that this was printed by WAPO in 2015 in the interest of promoting "Green" work places, but which clearly applies to Covid-19 masking requirements and shelter-in-place promotions, in the name of "following the science." Yet nowhere did I even see the exhortation of frequent ventilation that was exhorted 100 years ago with the 1918 flu (even NPR - before Covid - ran a story of how "there was once something called the Fresh Air Movement. It called for people to be outside more and for there to be plenty of ventilation indoors." The WAPO referenced NIH study is here , which states in part:

Abstract

Background:

The indoor built environment plays a critical role in our overall well-being because of both the amount of time we spend indoors (~90%) and the ability of buildings to positively or negatively influence our health. The advent of sustainable design or green building strategies reinvigorated questions regarding the specific factors in buildings that lead to optimized conditions for health and productivity.

Objective:

We simulated indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions in “Green” and “Conventional” buildings and evaluated the impacts on an objective measure of human performance: higher-order cognitive function.

Methods:

Twenty-four participants spent 6 full work days (0900–1700 hours) in an environmentally controlled office space, blinded to test conditions. On different days, they were exposed to IEQ conditions representative of Conventional [high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] and Green (low concentrations of VOCs) office buildings in the United States. Additional conditions simulated a Green building with a high outdoor air ventilation rate (labeled Green+) and artificially elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels independent of ventilation.

Results:

On average, cognitive scores were 61% higher on the Green building day and 101% higher on the two Green+ building days than on the Conventional building day (p < 0.0001). VOCs and CO2 were independently associated with cognitive scores.

Conclusions:

Cognitive function scores were significantly better under Green+ building conditions than in the Conventional building conditions for all nine functional domains. These findings have wide-ranging implications because this study was designed to reflect conditions that are commonly encountered every day in many indoor environments.

Citation:

Allen JG, MacNaughton P, Satish U, Santanam S, Vallarino J, Spengler JD. 2016. Associations of cognitive function scores with carbon dioxide, ventilation, and volatile organic compound exposures in office workers: a controlled exposure study of green and conventional office environments. Environ Health Perspect 124:805–812; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510037

Also see thread "Lying and misleading headlines: "Researchers find face masks don't hinder breathing during exercise:" Science past and present - and common sense (study) . Yes, I wear a breathable mash in certain situations outside due to the law requiring it, but if one is healthy and fit then by the grace of God one should not be afraid of Covid, and recover from any infection.

[DannyTN]

Fine, I'll get the cows out of the house.
Too much noise anyway.

[rightwingcrazy]

So people perform poorly in a stuffy room. Got it.

[G Larry]

Did anybody tell these morons that these damn Covid masks significantly increase CO2 intake?

[libh8er]

They needed a study for this ? Who paid for the ‘study’ ?

[kaehurowing]

Everybody in Beijing should be dead by now.

[P-Marlowe]

That’s 3 1/2 times current levels. If they did that with nitrogen everyone in the experiment would be dead. If they did that with oxygen levels it would result in oxygen toxicity.

At the current alleged rise in CO2 concentrations, it would take a thousand years to get to that level. By then all the reserve fossil fuels would be gone.

[unread]

So, what are you saying.? That these mask, where we are constantly re-breathing our own exhaust, are making us stuuuuupid..!

I can believe that....

[maddog55]

When mask were removed they functioned normally.

[katana]

Of course an environment with a high level of CO2 affects cognitive function. Lock the scientists who performed this study in a bank safe overnight so they can really verify their "findings".

No mention of installing a lot of indoor plants in the building to process the CO2 into more O2? I guess continuing to demonize CO2 takes precedence over suggesting an obvious solution.

[I want the USA back]

Did they really need a study to determine this?

[MileHi]

a green building with enhanced ventilation

The more fresh air you bring into a building (ventilation) the more air you have to heat/cool. That uses energy. So I don't see how they claim that is "green" by their use of the term.

Those of us who do HVAC/controls have been doing this as long as I remember. With electronic control systems we kind of perfected it 20-25 years ago. So what is their point?

[JonPreston]

Sick Building Syndrome will be used by Greenies to retrofit buildings.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Did they mention that the location of the “green” building matters?

Cognitive function in a green (or not) building in SF is essentially non existent.

[metmom]

So when we wear masks and increase the CO2 levels we’re breathing, the end result is the same.

[chasio649]

Any of these clowns ever been to sea on a submarine...submerged?

[ifinnegan]

More fake science.

Veritas got them on record saying green crap is the next propaganda campaign.