Dyson Connected Purifier Data: Singapore ranked 4^th globally amongst countries with poorest indoor air quality when compared to outdoor air quality

• Two-thirds of countries experienced higher annual average indoor PM2.5 levels compared to outdoor in 2022. 
• Singapore saw average annual indoor PM2.5 levels 36% higher than outdoor PM2.5, placing it 4th globally amongst countries with the poorest indoor air quality when compared to outdoor air quality in 2022.
• All countries’ monthly average indoor PM2.5 level exceeded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) long-term exposure guidance for at least 6 months in the year. 
• Singapore saw indoor annual average PM2.5 levels exceed WHO annual guidelines by 1.8 times, placing it 14th globally amongst countries with the highest annual indoor average PM2.5 levels in 2022.
• In an average 24h period, the most polluted time (PM2.5) fell between 6pm and midnight, coinciding with times when people are usually in their homes.

Today, Dyson unveils the results of its first Global Connected Air Quality Data project. The project analyses indoor air quality information collected by more than 2.5 million Dyson Purifiers from 2022 to 2023 to landscape air quality in real homes across the world. This is done, to a high degree of granularity, breaking down pollution into gas and particle pollutants, and profiling trends over days, months, seasons and the full year. The data comes from Dyson Purifiers connected to the MyDyson™ app; the volume of data exceeds half a trillion data points and paints a precise picture of indoor air quality in cities and countries globally to help build understanding and awareness of indoor air pollution.

What is PM2.5? What are VOCs?

From a wealth of data, this project focuses on two types of pollutantspollutant – PM2.5, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). PM2.5 refers to particles as small as 2.5 microns in diameter, 1/25th the diameter of a typical human hair. These particles are invisible to the naked eye, can be inhaled and are an area of increasing scientific and health research. Sources include combustion, – wood burners, or gas cooking and heating – pet dander, ash and dust. VOCs are gas pollutants including Benzene and Formaldehyde which can be emitted from activities like cleaning, or gas cooking as well as from products including deodorants and body sprays, candles, furniture and furnishings. 

According to the WHO, long-term exposure to PM2.5 is a likely cause for respiratory effects, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality and conditions such as lung cancer. Notably, the 2019 annual population weighted PM2.5 concentrations from the WHO Global Ambient Air Quality Database were highest in the South-East Asia Region. 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies common household products such as paints, aerosol sprays, disinfectants, cleansers and air fresheners as sources of VOCs. According to the WHO, VOCs such as Benzene have been associated with a range of acute and long-term adverse health effects and diseases, including cancer and hematological effects. 

“Our connected air quality data allows us insight into the real problem of indoor air pollution in homes across the world. This gives us a direct understanding of the challenges Dyson Purifiers face in real environments and the knowledge to engineer ever-better machines to tackle those challenges. But the data we capture isn’t just an engineering tool – on an individual basis, this data is shared back through the MyDyson app in real-time and via monthly reports, to help our Owners improve their air quality understanding.” – Matt Jennings, Engineering Director for Environmental Care

“We all think of air pollution as being an outdoor or roadside problem. Indoor air pollution research is growing but continues to be underdeveloped. Dyson's findings give us a valuable insight into the real pollution levels in homes across the world, helping us to understand the patterns of pollution daily, monthly and seasonally. The Dyson data is an incredibly powerful education tool and the opportunities for positive impact are boundless – understanding the pollution around us is the first step to reducing our pollution exposure.” – Professor Hugh Montgomery, Chair of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London, and Chairperson of Dyson’s Scientific Advisory Board

“Indoor air pollution can be a cause of health problems when left unchecked. Dyson’s study showcases the prevalence of poor indoor air quality in Southeast Asia and dispels the common myth that outdoor air quality is always worse. This can support public understanding of indoor air pollution and is a prompt for clinicians to adopt a holistic view when managing allergic rhinitis, asthma, and bronchitis among other health issues.” – Dr Ong Kian Chung, Respiratory Physician and President of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Association of Singapore.

When looking at PM2.5 annual average indoor levels versus PM2.5 annual average outdoor quality levels, the data from Dyson purifiers yielded surprising results. 19 countries globally were found to have indoor air quality poorer than outdoor air quality on average, with Singapore notably taking the fourth spot after China, Austria and Spain. Except for April, July, October and September 2022, monthly average indoor PM2.5 levels in Singapore were poorer than outdoor levels – bringing indoor air quality in Singapore to be 1.36 times worse on average than outdoor air quality.