Indoor air pollution is emerging as a critical health concern in the UK, with experts warning that it may pose a greater threat than outdoor pollution. Dr. Thom Daniels, a consultant respiratory physician at University Hospital Southampton, emphasizes the "invisible threat" of indoor pollutants, which can exacerbate conditions like asthma and trigger respiratory symptoms. This warning coincides with a new report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), linking air pollution to 30,000 deaths annually in the UK.

The Hidden Dangers of Indoor Air

Dr. Daniels highlights that while outdoor air quality is easier to monitor, indoor air pollution remains largely unexamined despite its pervasive presence. "We spend 90% of our time indoors," he notes, "and until we understand better about indoor air quality, we'll be missing the majority of our air exposure." Common household activities, such as cooking and using wood-burning stoves, release particulates and harmful gases, significantly degrading indoor air quality. An air monitor test demonstrated how quickly indoor air can become polluted through everyday tasks like frying food or burning candles.

A National Health Crisis

The RCP's report underscores the severe impact of air pollution on public health, with 99% of the UK population exposed to toxic air. The report reveals that air pollution affects nearly every organ, contributing to conditions like heart disease, stroke, and even dementia. The economic cost is staggering, with estimates reaching £50 billion annually when considering wider impacts. Dr. Mumtaz Patel, president of the RCP, stresses that air pollution is not merely an environmental issue but a public health crisis, urging the government to treat clean air as a basic human right.

Calls for Government Action

The report calls for decisive government action to address this crisis. England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, acknowledges the progress made in reducing pollutants over the past three decades but insists that air pollution remains a major cause of chronic ill health and premature mortality. Sarah Sleet, CEO of Asthma and Lung UK, echoes these concerns, labeling air pollution as the biggest environmental threat to human health.