Elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – gases emitted by everyday indoor items like detergents, pesticides, perfumes, aerosol sprays, and paint – can impact individuals’ creativity in a workplace setting, stated Nanyang Technological University (NTU) researchers.

Using a statistical analysis, the team estimated that reducing total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) by 72 percent could improve a student’s creative potential by 12 percent. TVOC is an indicator that refers to the volume of volatile organic compounds in the air.

Understanding Indoor VOC Sources and Their Impact on Creative Cognition

Indoor VOCs are emitted from interior decoration sources such as paints and carpets and household products such as detergents and air fresheners. The findings shed light on the importance of indoor air quality on our creative cognition, said the research team led by Assistant Professor Ng Bing Feng and Associate Professor Wan Man Pun, Cluster Directors for Smart and Sustainable Building Technologies at the NTU’s Energy Research Institute.

“While most people would correctly associate indoor air quality with effects on the lungs, especially since we just emerged from a pandemic, our study shows that it could also have an impact on the mind and creative cognition, or the ability to use knowledge in an unconventional way. Our findings suggest that relatively low TVOC levels, even if well within the accepted threshold, could impact an individual’s creative potential,” Ng said.

“This could have serious consequences for industries that rely on creativity for the bulk of their work. For instance, artists often use paints and thinners that release high levels of volatile organic compounds and may not know they need adequate ventilation to clear them from their workplace.”

The findings also point to how making minor adjustments in the office, such as reducing the use of aroma diffusers or ensuring adequate ventilation, could positively impact employees and their productivity,” Wan added. For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team asked 87 undergraduate and postgraduate students in a controlled environment simulating an indoor workspace to build 3D models with LEGO bricks.

Researchers varied the air quality of the workspace using different combinations of air filters. This varied the level of pollutants in the air, including carbon dioxide, PM2.5 (air pollutants less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter), and TVOC. The team found that participants tended to turn in creative solutions with lower scores — an indicator of lower creative potential — when the workspace had higher TVOC levels.