Air Quality and Asthma
Key facts
Air pollution is generally invisible, it enters our lungs when we breathe and gets into our bloodstream, leading to affects throughout the body.
There is no safe level of air pollution- There are many causes inside and outside the home
- Children are especially sensitive because their bodies are still growing.
- Children’s lungs, immune systems, brain and ability to learn are all impacted by air pollution.
- Air pollution can affect people in the town or countryside
- It is worse near main roads
How does air pollution affect asthma?
Air pollution can affect your asthma in different ways. You may find that air pollution can make your asthma worse, making it more likely for you to have an asthma attack. Air pollution can also make you more sensitive to your triggers, such as pollen or exercise, making them more likely to cause an asthma attack. There are long-term effects too; exposure to air pollution at a young age may contribute to the development of asthma in later childhood.
Air pollution levels
It’s important to be aware of air pollution levels and know what to do if the levels are high.
The Daily Air Quality Index tells you what the recommended actions and health advice are.
The Pollution Forecast tells you what the pollution levels are in your area.
What is mould?
Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp places. If you’ve got mould at home, you’ll probably notice fuzzy black, white or green patches on walls, ceilings or tiles. It might smell damp and musty. Mould is more common in homes that need repairs, such as fixing window frames, or sorting leaks out. You might notice it’s more damp and mould in bathrooms or kitchens because of condensation from washing and cooking.
Why is damp a problem for asthma?
Living in a damp, mouldy home is not good for your asthma. Babies, small children, older people and people with allergies are more likely to be affected. Mould produces spores which can be breathed in. If your child is allergic to mould spores it could trigger their asthma symptoms. Damp and mouldy housing can put your child more at risk of other things that can make their asthma worse like chest infections, colds and flu and rhinitis.
- Use fragrance-free, milder cleaning products
- Avoid plug-in fragrances
- Avoid aerosols and sprays
- When decorating, choose safer paints and varnishes labelled ‘low VOC’ (volatile organic compounds)
- Ask people not to smoke in your home.
- Cigarette smoke is a dangerous asthma trigger and it can also make you and your child more sensitive to other indoor triggers.
- Your local stop smoking service is free and able to offer support to help you stop smoking.
- Reduce home burning as much as possible (e.g. log burners, coal fires or candles) - open coal fires can give off sulphur dioxide which can trigger asthma. Try using wood with a ’ready to burn’ symbol. Central heating tends to be cleaner, but can still give off some pollutants especially if its an old boiler or hasn’t been serviced for a while.
- Service heaters, cookers and boilers once a year – they will be checked to make sure they are not giving out too many fumes.
- Avoid gas cookers – they give off fine particles small enough to get into your lungs. Good ventilation in the kitchen is even more important if you have a gas cooker.
- When cooking to prevent moisture and condensation build up, open windows, use extractor fans (the highest setting), place the pan at the back of the hob when you can, as this works best with the extractor fan, and let the fan run for 10 minutes after you finish cooking.
Ventilate your home
- Open windows in bathrooms, when cooking, using cleaning products or using the bath or shower.
- Some windows have small vents built into them known as ‘trickle vents’, which you can keep open.
- Watch out for dusty fans or extractors or you’ll end up blowing dust all round the room.
- Close windows near busy roads during busy times.
- Remember to open windows in winter, when there are typically high levels of pollutants in your home because of using gas appliances and fires more.
- Caution on high pollen or pollution days or very cold days, if these are triggers for your child’s asthma.
It is important to repair any leaks, problems with mould or ventilation systems. If you are living in social housing contact your housing association or local authority. If you are in a private rental, Shelter have information about talking to your landlord.
What to do if you’ve got damp and mould at home?
If you think your home is damp, or you’ve noticed mould, it’s best to act quickly to sort out the problem before it gets worse. Deal with the damp:
Home Owners
Find out what’s causing the damp, such as leaks, or condensation from cooking, showering or drying clothes indoors.
Don’t try and get rid of any mould by yourself if you have asthma that is triggered by mould. Get a mould removal specialist.
If the mould covers more than a square meter or if it’s caused by problems with the building itself then you would need to get advice from a builder.
Rental property
If you are a tenant and you have concerns about dampness or mould in your property, the first step is to report the issue to your landlord to give them the opportunity to put it right.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome after doing this you should report it to your local council (if they are not your landlord) who can investigate any actions your landlord needs to take, which they can enforce if necessary.
If you are a council tenant and not happy with the response from your landlord you should make a formal complaint through your council’s customer feedback process. The Housing Ombudsman can assist after this if you do not receive a satisfactory response or outcome to your complaint.
Citizens Advice offer advice on grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills, and also advice on switching energy suppliers. You may be able to access support from affordable warmth services in your local area, such as help repairing your boiler if you are on low income.
Warm homes get less condensation.
Make sure your home is well insulated by insulating your loft by the recommended depth of 270mm, and your cavity walls, if your house has them.
Your windows and external doors should be draught-proofed, and you should consider secondary glazing in your windows are draughty.