Smartline Research
The impact of the indoor environment upon asthma
When we talk about the health risks caused by pollution, it’s often the outside environment that’s discussed. Factors such as industrial pollution, vehicle emissions and natural pollutants such as pollen are known to have health impacts. But what about the effects of the indoor environment?
Smartline’s researchers are working to gain a stronger understanding of how indoor home environments can have an impact on conditions like asthma.
Why is it important to research the effects of indoor environments?
We spend a lot of time in our homes, and time indoors has increased since the pandemic. The quality of our home environment is important for health and mental wellbeing.
Approximately 10% of adults in the UK have an asthma diagnosis, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Increased exposure to different physical, biological and chemical compounds in the air can be harmful.
Physical compounds can include dust particles. Biological compounds include mould and dust mites, while chemical compounds ae largely VOCs (volatile chemical compounds) from building and household products and furnishings.
We know that living in a mouldy and damp home increases the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases. In addition to household products and furnishings, living in a mouldy and damp home increases exposure to volatile organic compounds. These VOCs are linked to the rise of respiratory conditions like asthma.
Understanding this link and looking at ways of preventing high concentrations of these physical, biological and chemical agents is essential for public health and housing management.
What research was carried out?
The specific focus on asthma follows our research into the interaction between the home and household behaviour (including heating and ventilation patterns) and their effects on indoor temperatures, humidity and moisture levels.
These factors can lead to damp, mould and other pollutants. The quality of the home environment depends on the building’s fabric and design, its level of maintenance, and problems such as fuel poverty (where householders can’t adequately heat and ventilate their home).
We used data collected from sensors in Coastline Housing homes across Cornwall. The sensors provide accurate, real-time data on indoor temperatures, indoor humidity and air pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.
This data is helping us to identify homes and households at risk. All the participants have provided us with information about themselves, including their health. For example, the data can be used to develop a mould prediction model, which will help landlords prevent indoor mould and damp, resulting in improved health.
The research so far shows a link between asthma and wheezing, and visible mould (or a mouldy odour). Older adults (especially women) are in the highest risk group.
Are there implications for the community and decision makers?
To inform housing policy we need a greater understanding about how the indoor environment impacts our health and wellbeing. 17% of the UK’s housing stock is social housing; and sharing this research with housing associations can help them to mitigate the risks.
Research is also important for the wider housing sector including private rental. Housing associations operate to set standards but it’s harder to monitor factors such as mould, humidity and damp in the private sector. Our research can be used to work towards improving housing conditions across all rental sectors.
For householders, a greater understanding about the different physical, biological and chemical agents found at home can help them adapt behaviours to reduce health risks. Managing indoor temperatures alongside adequate ventilation can make a huge difference to the indoor environment and help to avoid problems such as damp, mould and dust mites. This can be as simple as opening the window after a shower.
What are the next steps?
This research can inform policy and practice across a range of landlords and housing organisations. This will be achieved by getting a better understanding of the links between physical and mental health and how these are affected by the built and human environment.
This includes Smartline research into asthma and indoor pollution, which can be used meaningfully to improve conditions for householders.
Who is involved with this research?
The Smartline project team is Dr Richard A Sharpe, Professor Karyn Morrissey, Dr Tim Taylor, Dr Tamaryn Menneer, Dr Markus Mueller, Cheryl Patterson and Professor Stuart Townley.
Additional Research
Household products should carry asthma warnings
Our latest research published in Environmental Research, finds evidence that a group of chemicals found in a wide range of household products can increase the risk of asthma. We recommend that labelling should reflect this risk, warning people to ventilate their homes while using them.
Fuel poverty can increase mental health risks for social housing tenants
New research published in Wellbeing, Space and Society, highlights the increased mental health risks of fuel poverty, for people living in social housing.
Research investigates new ways to model mould growth
In this research, we monitor mould growth by testing a laboratory-based model in real people’s homes. Eighty million people in Europe live in buildings contaminated with indoor mould, affecting 15% of homes in the UK.