Families living in deprived neighbourhoods and those from ethnic minority backgrounds are facing the poorest indoor air quality in the UK, according to a new study led by the University of York.
Researchers found harmful levels of PM2.5 in hundreds of homes, raising fresh concerns about health inequalities and prompting calls for urgent government action.
The study analysed indoor air quality in 309 households taking part in the Born in Bradford long-term health research programme. PM2.5 levels exceeded World Health Organization recommended daily limits on 41% of all monitored days, a finding researchers described as ‘deeply concerning.’
The study forms part of the INGENIOUS project, one of the UK’s largest and most detailed investigations into indoor air quality. The consortium includes researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Manchester and Sheffield, the Stockholm Environment Institute and Born in Bradford. The project aims to map how indoor pollutants form, change and circulate within homes.
Professor Nicola Carslaw, INGENIOUS Project Lead at the University of York, said: ‘This research highlights disparities in exposure to common indoor air pollutants. We must develop policies that address air pollution from all angles, both inside and outside our homes, to better protect all households.’
Researchers found that South Asian households recorded higher average daily PM2.5 levels than White British households. Homes in the most deprived parts of Bradford also had notably higher pollution levels than those in more affluent areas.
Rented properties, homes where residents smoked, terraced and semi-detached houses, and those using gas stoves were all associated with increased PM2.5 concentrations.
Born in Bradford Principal Research Fellow Rachael Cheung, a co-author of the paper, said the findings expose an often overlooked public health threat. ‘Our research indicates that indoor air quality isn’t as good as we might hope, and that it affects some communities more than others
‘Since people tend to spend most of their time indoors, this could pose a serious, yet often overlooked, health risk.’
Professor Rosie McEachan, Director of Born in Bradford, said the results should be a catalyst for change. ‘The levels of pollution that families are exposed to every day indoors are alarming. Pollution is a major cause of respiratory illness in the UK, and our findings suggest that if we can clean up the air inside our homes, we can dramatically improve the health of families.’
The INGENIOUS team is now calling for a national public awareness campaign, as well as stronger policy interventions to reduce indoor air pollution – particularly in communities shown to be disproportionately affected.
The full research can be read here
Photo: Emphyrio / Pixabay
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