Improve the indoor air in your home

Poor indoor air quality at home is linked to health effects in people of all ages. Associated child related health effects include breathing problems, chest infections, low birth weight, pre-term birth, wheeze, allergies, eczema, skin problems, hyperactivity, inattention, difficulty sleeping, sore eyes and not doing well at school.

During lockdown, many of us are likely to have spent more time indoors, so the indoor environment is even more important. It’s important that we take steps to reduce our pollution exposure and imperative that we develop the knowledge to empower society to do so.

The Indoor Air Quality Working Party has three top tips:

• AVOID bringing pollutants indoors
• REMOVE sources of pollutants indoors
• REDUCE exposure to, and use of, polluting products and activities indoors

Avoid bringing pollutants indoors

The most effective way to avoid poor indoor air quality is to avoid pollutants coming into the space.

Cooking

• Avoid burning food.
• If you are replacing appliances, it can reduce NO2 to choose electrical rather than gas powered appliances.
• Some newer ovens have ‘self-cleaning’ functions; try to stay out of the kitchen if you are using this function.

Moisture

• High humidity is linked to damp and mould.
• Dry clothes outdoors if possible.
• If you are a tenant with persistent damp or mould in your home, contact your landlord or environmental health department.
• If you own your own home, find out what is causing any damp and get defects repaired.

Smoking and vaping

• Do not smoke or vape, or allow others to smoke or vape, in your home.
• E-cigarettes and vaping can cause irritant health effects such as cough and wheeze, especially in asthmatic children. Where nicotine is a vaping ingredient, there are known adverse health effects of exposure. Whilst the long term health effects of are uncertain, it would be sensible to take a precautionary approach and avoid exposing children to vaping and e-cigarettes indoors.

Combustion

• Avoid activities that involve burning indoors, such as burning candles or incense, or burning wood or coal for heat, if you have an alternative heating option.

Outdoor sources

• Control outdoor sources, for example do not use bonfires and report nuisance bonfires to the local council.
• Avoid using ventilation without filtration during periods when the air outside is polluted, for example keep windows closed during rush hour and open them at different times of day.