INGENIOUS Insight: Understanding air pollution in homes

A new insight report from the INGENIOUS project explores the sources, transformations and effects of indoor air pollution, offering important learning for public health, housing quality and healthy homes.

The report draws on research in more than 300 homes in Bradford, examining how cooking, cleaning, heating, ventilation, property conditions and lifestyle habits affect indoor air quality.

The findings show that air inside the home can sometimes be more polluted than outdoor air, particularly where ventilation is poor or households are experiencing disadvantage. Factors associated with higher indoor pollution levels included cooking emissions, gas stoves, smoking and increasingly airtight homes without sufficient ventilation.

The report highlights practical steps that can help improve indoor air quality, including effective ventilation, use of extractor fans and reducing the use of spray cleaning products. It also calls for greater policy attention to indoor air quality in the UK, recognising its importance for creating healthier homes and supporting better public health outcomes.