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- How Much Air Do We Breathe in a Day?
How Much Air Do We Breathe in a Day?
We are said to consume about 1.5 kg of food and around 2 liters of water each day. But how much air do we breathe? Because we breathe automatically, we rarely think about the amount of air that passes through our bodies. Yet compared with the food we eat and the water we drink, the amount is surprisingly large.
We Breathe More Air Than Most People Realize
On average, we breathe about 20 times per minute and take in roughly 0.5 liters of air with each breath. Over the course of a day, that adds up to approximately 28,800 breaths and about 14,400 liters of air. In terms of weight, this is equivalent to roughly 20 kilograms. Breathing is something we rarely notice, but our bodies take in an enormous amount of air every day.
*Actual values vary depending on lung capacity, temperature, and other conditions
Most of Our Day Is Spent Indoors
In modern life, much of our day is spent indoors—whether working, sleeping, or going about our daily routines. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people in the United States spend about 90% of their time indoors. As a result, the air we breathe is often influenced more by indoor environments than by outdoor conditions. Reviewing the air quality in the places where we spend the most time can be an important first step toward a healthier lifestyle.
Source: US Environmental Protection Agency「Indoor Air Quality」
https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality
How Air Quality Affects Our Health
The quality of the air we breathe can influence both our health and daily activities.
For example, rising carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels have been linked to potential effects on concentration and overall comfort. Indoor pollutants such as dust, allergens, and chemical substances have also been associated with potential health risks. At Daikin, we focus on these aspects of air quality and continue to advance research and development aimed at creating healthier indoor environments. For example, we are advancing research and development that incorporates insights from neuroscience to better understand how factors such as CO₂ levels in the air, as well as temperature and humidity, affect concentration and feelings of fatigue.
Air Is One of the Most Familiar and Most Essential Substances Around Us
- We take in approximately 20 kg, or about 14,400 liters of air every day.
- In modern life, we spend most of our time indoors, and some data suggests that people in the United States spend about 90% of their day inside.
- In both quantity and time, our exposure to air far exceeds that of food or water.
- That is why reviewing the air quality in the places where we spend the most time is an important foundation for a healthier lifestyle.
