Lowhumidity
Low humidity refers to air that contains relatively little moisture. In meteorology and indoor air quality, it is typically defined as a relative humidity below about 30% to 40%. Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at the current temperature. Dew point and absolute humidity are related measures; dry air has a low dew point and low absolute humidity.
In indoor environments, a comfortable range is commonly cited as roughly 30% to 50% relative humidity. Some
Causes of low humidity include:
- Naturally dry climates, especially arid regions
- Cold air, which holds less moisture
- Indoor heating or cooling that removes moisture from the air
- Poor ventilation or air exchange that prevents moisture from entering
Effects of low humidity can involve both people and materials:
- Health and comfort: dry skin, irritated eyes and throat, nasal bleeding, and increased static electricity
- Environments and objects: wood can shrink or crack, paint or wallpaper may peel, and electronics or
- Plants: some houseplants may wilt or show stress due to insufficient moisture in the air
Management and mitigation strategies include:
- Using humidifiers or evaporative devices to add moisture
- Keeping rooms well-sealed and ventilated while balancing humidity
- Monitoring indoor RH with hygrometers and adjusting to maintain target levels
- Introducing moisture sources such as water features or damp towels in moderation, and placing plants appropriately
Notes: extremely low humidity can increase transmission of certain respiratory irritants, but humidity alone is not