New research raises questions about the future of indoor air quality 

A new paper exploring potential future disparities in indoor air quality using existing data has identified a number of challenges that may arise, covering a multitude of industries and sectors.  

Environmental justice is raised as a primary cause for concern – as policy changes, technology evolves, and the effects of climate change worsen, more challenges will arise relating to how people are unequally affected by poor air quality. 

Environmental justice 

The term ‘environmental justice’ in this context relates to how people across the UK are impacted by measures that aim to improve air quality. From socioeconomic status to race and geographic location, environmental justice is focused on ensuring policy and legislation does not negatively impact an individual. 

This has two sides: who is directly (or indirectly) impacted by legislation, and who is able to contribute to the creation of policy. 

Indoor air quality is unique in that the location and house someone lives in will disproportionately affect their exposure, and a lack of understanding of what can reduce indoor air quality only exacerbates this. 

Implications for domestic combustion 

Individuals that are burning responsibly or do not even own a solid fuel appliance can be affected by a neighbour’s irresponsible and poor burning habits. This raises questions about the environmental justice of existing legislation (and education) surrounding domestic combustion. 

Households may be aware of their old, inefficient appliance’s high emissions, but lack the funds to upgrade. If a household cannot afford to upgrade their appliance (or, if they do not use a solid fuel appliance, increase ventilation), they are stuck in a difficult situation where they suffer from a lack of heat in their home (which can make other factors that affect air quality worse, such as mould and damp), or they knowingly use an outdated, inefficient appliance. Current legislation that has banned the sale of the most polluting fuels, such as traditional house coal and wet wood, have significantly assisted  

Regularly chimney sweeping and maintenance can help reduce these emissions, but a combination of good habits is essential to keep warm safely: 

• Having your appliance installed by a HETAS Registered Installer 

• Using a modern, efficient Cleaner Choice appliance 

• Only using Ready to Burn fuels 

• Burning according to the manufacturer’s instructions 

• Regularly getting your chimney swept and appliance serviced 

Future consideration 

As well as raising ten questions, the research paper looks to the future. With changes expected across a range of sectors and environments, the consideration of how indoor air quality will be affected is essential.  

Technologies and policy that shapes the UK’s progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting net zero may not sufficiently consider their impacts on indoor air quality, plus how their initiatives will affect disadvantaged groups differently. 

Ten questions are raised: 

1. What are the interactions between social gradients in health and exposure to poor indoor air quality? 

1. What is understood about the inequalities in sources of indoor air pollution? 

1. What role can ventilation play in improving indoor air quality? 

1. How will climate change affect indoor air quality? 

1. How will net zero policies affect indoor air quality? 

1. How will the adoption of technological innovations indoors affect indoor air quality? 

1. How will future population shifts and demographic changes impact indoor air quality? 

1. What role can individual behaviour change play in improving indoor air quality? 

1. How should indoor air quality improvement strategies be incorporated into regulations? 

1. How can a transdisciplinary approach lead to better indoor air quality? 

Question 9 is of particular interest when thinking of the range in pollutants that an inefficient, poorly operated appliance produces in comparison to a modern, efficient appliance that is operated well. 

Assumptions are often made with legislation, wherein behaviour is assumed to be well-informed and sufficient when done in partnership with legislation. Dry wood produces much less emissions compared to wet wood, but it still has a lot of other variables, such as frequency of chimney sweeping, appliance age and condition, user operation, and overall behavioural habits.  

Exposure inequities can be better addressed when indoor air quality is addressed through targeted technology restrictions (such as Defra exempt appliances in smoke control areas), but this faces its own economic challenges. A careful balance of behavioural understanding and changes, plus a ban on the most polluting technologies is more likely to avoid inequalities in our sector, and this question offers some interesting insights. 

Read through the full research paper for a deeper dive into these questions. 

Poor air quality needs to be addressed as a social issue just as much as it is a public health issue. Designing equitable policies that take into account affected communities, lower-income households, and the unique circumstances of much of the UK’s housing stock (rural areas, off-grid houses, and poorly ventilation houses). 

Interventions that have the intention of improving air quality and improving health are still susceptible to negative side effects. This is why it is important that any legislation is carefully considered; existing legislation related to domestic combustion (such as Ready to Burn, smoke control areas, and Ecodesign regulations) have prompted better practices and innovation whilst causing minimal negative impacts.