‘How IoT Adoption Will Protect Humans from Air Pollution’

IoT Africa, a Tranter Group of Companies, facilitating the growth and penetration of Internet of Things (IoTs) has said the rapid expansion of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, has resulted in pollution, unhealthy air, and a high prevalence of illness and untimely deaths.

The group cited a World Bank study of 2018, which stated that air pollution, disease, and early deaths in Lagos, caused by ambient air pollution, cost about $2.1 billion.

This, it stated accounted for nearly 2.1 per cent of Lagos Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

IoT Africa however noted the adoption of the technology could protect humans from air pollution, if properly managed.

In a bid to address these concerns, IoT Africa Networks Limited, held a webinar, tagged “Quality Air and Covid-19: How to improve productivity and safety using IoT.”

The online event, which held recently, had three keynote speakers that included the Founder of Connected Finland, Tom Lindblad; Head of International Relations, Rapal Oy, Maija Patjas and the Executive Director of IoT Africa Limited and Tranter IT Infrastructure Services Limited, Melanie Ayoola.

In his contribution, Ayoola outlined the importance of air quality as it relates to daily productivity.

In her presentation, she highlighted how remote work and other corporate workplace perks such as bonus packages and fantastic reward schemes could be undermined by the unavailability of quality air.

According to her: “It could all be less effective in providing a motivated and driven workforce, if the air, the basic natural resource we need to live, is not good enough to sustain the body’s engine.”

She went on to discuss how the air we breathe affects our productivity and stated that “what we are avoiding is an environment where our air is working against us.”

Lindblad was on hand to provide additional insights on the topic – ‘Seeing the Invisible: How Connected Inventions can help to

Monitor and Provide Covid-Safe Indoor Quality Air Around You.’

He explained how Carbon Monoxide (CO2) levels rise when there is less fresh air, causing headaches, restlessness, drowsiness, and other symptoms. Increased levels have been related to decreased productivity, increased sick leave, and the spread of infectious diseases, making this a serious issue in the office, school, and at home.