It is well established that outdoor air pollution is harmful to human health. However, less attention has been paid to the potential health effects of indoor air pollution.
Health based air quality standards and objectives set to protect us from the impacts of outdoor air pollution do not apply indoors, even though most of us spend around 90% of our time inside homes, schools and workplaces.
Indoor air pollution is a mixture of pollutants generated inside a building from building materials, furniture and furnishings, or by activities such as cooking, heating, smoking and use of paints, varnishes, cleaning products and air fresheners. Pollutants generated outside a building (by industrial processes, traffic emissions, etc.) can also migrate indoors through windows or other means of ventilation. Heating and cooking appliances and environmental tobacco smoke are the most important indoor sources of pollution in UK homes.
Like outdoor air pollution the pollutants inside your home can impact on your health. Those most at risk are young children and adults with existing lung and heart conditions.
Some ways you can reduce exposure to air pollutants inside you home include:
More information on indoor air pollutants and how to reduce your exposure is available on the following websites:
