What is air pollution?
Air pollution is used to describe the different types of harmful chemicals and particles in the air. Indoor and outdoor air pollution can have a significant impact on our health.
You can’t see it, but air pollution is all around us. There are actions we can take to limit our exposure to air pollution. The 'Breathe Better' campaign aims to support you in recognising sources of air pollution and understanding how to better protect theirs and their family's health.
This project is supported with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
How does it affect our health?
Air pollution can affect anyone, however, those most at risk include children, elderly people and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.
Pollutants vary in size, some are up to 50 times smaller than the width of a single hair (PM 2.5), due to their size, they can settle deep into airways and lungs.
Short term exposure to pollutants can exacerbate conditions such as asthma, impact lung function and cause coughing and wheezing.
Long-term exposure has been linked to an increased risk of heart and lung disease, as well as other respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
Indoor air pollution
There are many different sources of indoor air pollution. Appliances such as wood burning stoves and open fires release particulate matter and harmful gases. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful pollutants and can be found in many different household products such as cleaning products, air fresheners, paint and polishes.
You can protect yourself and your household from sources of indoor air pollution by:
- keeping your home well-ventilated when cleaning and opt for non-toxic cleaning products
- vacuum regularly and clean the vacuum filter as this is where pollutants accumulate
- when mopping and dusting, use a microfibre cloth or damp cloth to ensure you are picking up dust and dirt
- when you are cooking, try to keep lids on pots whenever you can. This will reduce the amount of energy needed to cook and reduce the amount of pollution from your hob. When cooking keep the air circulating in the room by opening windows and using an extractor fan if possible
- make sure your boiler is serviced each year to help keep it burning fuel cleanly. This should be carried out by a professional Gas Safe engineer. This will reduce pollution being emitted from the boiler flue and prevent Carbon Monoxide from being created and building up inside your house. It will also make sure that your boiler isn’t wasting fuel (and money)
- mould produces allergens that can impact our respiratory system. If drying clothes indoors, use a clothes drying rack rather than hanging items on radiators, keep air circulating and don’t block air vents
- if you use wood-burning appliances, have a look at our advice on how to burn better
- air fresheners, candles and incense sticks release particles that can be harmful to our health. Where you can, replace incense and candles with air fresheners made from natural, non-toxic ingredients
- VOCs can also be found in aerosols and sprays (both home and personal products). Check the ingredients before purchasing and where possible, opt for non-toxic products
Outdoor air pollution
There are a number of ways you can protect yourself and others from outdoor air pollution:
- where you can, walk, wheel, cycle or take public transport rather than driving, as you are more exposed to air pollution sitting in the car than you are outside
- when walking, try to walk on the inside of the pavement, away from the kerb so you are further away from car exhaust pipes and pollutants
- when walking outside, where you can, walk through low-traffic neighbourhoods to reduce your exposure to pollutants along traffic-heavy roads
- when dropping children off at school, try parking further away from the school and walking the rest of the way. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution as their lungs are still developing
- avoid outdoor burning as burning releases harmful pollutants. If you are looking to dispose of waste, ensure you follow the correct disposal methods. For larger amounts of waste, you can visit your local recycling centre
When driving is unavoidable, try to reduce the impact on yourself and those around you:
- when safe to do so, if you are stationary, switch off your engine. Leaving car engines running when stationary adds unnecessary pollutants into the air.
- try commuting during low-traffic times or car share with colleagues to help reduce the number of cars on the road.
- driving efficiently can not only improve air quality but also save on fuel, carbon emissions and money. For tips on how to drive efficiently, visit the Energy Saving Trust
For more information visit the Clean Air Hub