indoor air quality – because we need it
The signs of climate change – huge storms, fires, excessive flooding and high temperatures seem to be alerting us to the havoc industry is inflicting on our planet. The building industry plays its part in this, being responsible for 40% of carbon emissions worldwide. Air pollution is now a global concern - external air often contains diesel particulates and other pollutants. Research is beginning to focus equally on indoor air quality (IAQ).
We spend 90% of our lives indoors and statistics show that our indoor air quality is 10 times more polluted than the outside air we breathe. Most of us believe that our homes are relatively healthy. It seems obvious that we need good quality air inside our homes just as much as outside.
New buildings are built with airtightness standards, fuel conservation being a top priority. Buildings are constructed with materials which often contain chemicals, some of which are harmful to human life. Micro particles from these building materials mix with a variety of indoor contaminants within our buildings. The list of these is formidable: smoke particulates, from cigarettes, wood-burners and fires, mould and damp in unventilated areas, chemicals from cleaning products, chemicals outgassing from flame retardant materials, plastics outgassing from furniture or living appliances, formaldehyde in glues and pressed wood products, candles and air purifiers made with artificial scents - and more. Micro particles from all these sources combine in our homes and offices to create a cocktail of gases which can be harmful to our health. This is measurable as indoor air quality (IAQ). Older homes built of natural more porous materials such as brick, wood and lime, which breathe, generally allow more toxins to escape.
some facts about indoor air quality
In the UK around 12,000 people die every year from respiratory diseases, caused by breathing in a hazardous substance – dust, fibres, gases and vapour at work.
The World Health Organisation WHO publishes statistics on household air pollution – in 2012 worldwide there were 4.3 million deaths attributable to IAQ, the lowest numbers being in Europe and America.
Professor Philomena Bluyssen, Professor of the Indoor Environmental Department of Architecture at Delft University in Holland writes that ‘It is now recognised that certain groups of substance can or might cause health effects such as Sick Building Syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity’ not just simply inadequate ventilation or air conditioning alone.
Research at Zhejiang University in China found that carcinogens such as formaldehyde could be 80% more volatile during warm periods. Healthy.net reports that a Danish-Swedish team recently studied over 10,000 children and found that phthalates, the plasticisers which soften PVC and contribute to vinyl’s characteristic smell – could be a major contributor to the rise in childhood asthma and allergies. They found that asthmatic children lived in homes with the highest concentrations of phthalates in the house dust. Sweden banned all PVC products in 1995, Denmark similarly imposed at tax on all PVC products and phthalates.
The University of Exeter Medical School published a study in 2014 which showed that new ‘green’ homes which are assessed by SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) for energy efficiency ‘were associated with an increased risk of asthma’. Homes with a SAP rating over 71 were deemed to be at a ‘greater risk’.
The Sunday Times reported that The University of Texas published a study which showed that burnt toast can be a real contaminant inside the home, sending ‘concentrations in the surrounding air to between 300 and 400 micrograms per cubic metre’ far exceeding the limits set by WHO.
Moisture has been referred to as ‘one of the worst of all potential pollutants in a building.’ Mould is a sign of damp or moisture – mould spores are carried by air currents and should be attended to immediately. ‘Significant mould growth requires moisture and food sources’ –watch out for it on plywood, plasterboard, cement, carpets and underlay. It’s essential to remove the affected materials. High humidity conditions such as in bathrooms and kitchens can reactivate mould.
Wood-burning stoves contribute to IAQ causing up to 38% of particulate emissions– the most damaging form of air pollution – according to the government Clean Air Strategy.
what can we do to improve our indoor air quality?
The simplest solution is to open your windows as often as you can.
NASA studies show that certain plants absorb toxins – including formaldehyde - so ramp up your indoor nature with Spider plants, Peace lilies, Mother in laws tongue, Boston fern and breathe In JJ
The more scientific option is to investigate products on the market which measure VOCs, particulates, formaldehyde and other pollutants in the home. Formaldehyde can be found in MDF, plywoods, backing of flooring and other composite materials. If you have a respiratory problem or allergies this could be worth investigating.
products which measure indoor air quality
Waverton Analytics are a company which provides kits to analyse indoor air quality for the public through their Home Air Check option. They work with professionals through Waverton Analytics Ltd www.waverton-iaq.c
air purifiers
There are an increasing amount of air purifiers on the market. Opinions seem to be varied as to whether these are the solution or not. Dyson’s products are researched by a highly trained team of scientists. Dyson’s whole room purification claims it is the ‘only purifying fan to clean a whole family room properly. ’Blue air.com are a Swedish manufacturer of air purifiers… with integrated sensor that send updates on IAQ to your phone
Be aware too of your office environment – laser printers and copying machines discharge chemicals. Ask about the efficiency of your office ventilations system, its air change, frequency and ensure that clean air is supplied to the right places
One definitive option – if you are lucky enough to build a new extension or even a new house is to go for chemical and toxin free materials. This is definitely the go-to option for creating good IAQ.
what can I do now to improve my IAQ?
· Hang your dry cleaning outside to air for a few hours before you bring it into the house
· Make your home a Shoes Off zone – external pollutants and pesticides from gardens can come into our home on our shoes.
· Allow new furniture time outside or put in a well-ventilated area to outgas the finishes such as fire retardants on the fabrics. Chemicals level soar when new furniture comes into our buildings.
· Carpets hold dust so hoover regularly. Synthetic carpets can hold toxins such as phthalates, phenols and formaldehyde. Children’s rooms with carpets should be hoovered regularly.
· Consider what your mattress in made from – go for organic cotton bedding if you can.
· Cultivate indoor plants and avoid synthetic chemical cleaning products and synthetic perfumes. The general rule is – ‘the more natural the better.’
· Only use VOC free paints – VOCs – compounds that easily release into gases and vapours found in paints and building materials - are known to be ‘nerve and organ disrupting’.
· If you install a new wood-burner look for an Eco Design stove which reduce harmful emissions by 80%.
· Go for solid wood or tiled flooring if you are renewing.
· If you are renovating your home design a clothes’ drying area into the plan… a good idea is to use the airing cupboard where the cylinder is located, installing rails and hangers to dry clothes in the winter, with an extraction fan. Architects and building companies need to be much more savvy about designing drying areas into new builds.
· Use natural insulation for your home, avoid foam insulations which contain isocyanates. These are seen as a major health risk and are linked to asthmas and cancers.
· The Healthy Building Network in the States publishes an online database of materials listing their ingredients.
caring about indoor air quality = caring for our planet
British Safety Industry Federation bsif.co.uk
blueair.com/int › features › indoor-air-polluti
Sunday Times Battling the Elements May 5th 2019
Professor Philomena Bluyssen Delft University Holland (2009) The Indoor Environment Handbook
The Sunday Times May 5th 2019 ‘Battling the Elements’ (Zhejiang University quote)
Healthy.net – Environ Health Perspect 2004, Healthy Building Network healthybuilding.net
Financial Times 12th August 2018 ‘Healthy Homes: the hidden toxins in everyday building materials’ (Exeter University quote)
The Sunday Times February 17 2019 ‘Toast is more toxic than traffic fumes’ (University of Texas quote)
Tom Woolley (2017) Building Materials, Health and Indoor Air Quality’
The Times 21st January 2019 Ben Webster ‘Thousands Still Buy Dirty Wood Burners’
NASA Clean Air Study
A Study of Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution ...
Waverton Analytics waverton-iaq.com
dyson.co.uk - air purifiers
Daily Mail Eleanor Hayward June 29 2019 ‘Stop drying your laundry indoors’