Guidance for improving Indoor Air Quality in Existing Homes
22 June 2023
The Risk of Poor Indoor Air Quality in Existing Homes
We spend around 90% of our time indoors and around 16 hours a day on average at home.
This means that our potential risk of exposure to indoor air pollutants is significantly greater than that of outdoor air, especially considering that indoor air can be many times more polluted than outdoor air.
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ), or indoor air pollution, is linked to a range of health conditions that can contribute to a significant loss of healthy life years, premature mortality and significant cost to the NHS and wider economy. Recent research estimates that poor housing costs the NHS in England up to £1.4bn per year, with nearly £1bn related to indoor comfort aspects.
