Could energy efficient homes exacerbate asthma?

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A new study has warned a lack of ventilation in energy efficient homes could create more indoor pollutants…

Asthma could nearly double by 2050 due to the air inside homes becoming more polluted. A leading expert in indoor air quality has claimed the trend towards airtight properties could in fact lead to an increase in health problems.

Hazim Awbi, professor of the built environment at Reading University’s school of construction management and engineering, warned airborne pollutants caused through cooking, cleaning, and using aerosols can become trapped in airtight properties.

The report written by Awbi and funded by the UK’s electro-technical industry association Beama, stated: “Poor indoor air quality is connected with a range of undesirable health effects, such as allergic and asthma symptoms, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, airborne respiratory infections and cardiovascular disease.

“With the expected increase in airtightness for UK dwellings, it is anticipated that indoor air quality will generally become poorer, resulting in an increase in the number of cases of health symptoms related to poorer indoor environment quality.”

Increasing the efficiency of homes has seen a major drive over the last few years and although the government has reduced support for schemes such as Green Deal and zero carbon standards the sector remains at the forefront of meeting carbon reduction targets.

However, this new report reveals a different side of the debate and could lead to new questions about the health risks of creating energy efficient properties for those with respiratory conditions.

The report noted that declining indoor air quality could cause an 80 per cent increase in the 5.4 million people already suffering from asthma. It could also cause the concentration of volatile organic compounds found in aerosol to reach 60 per cent above World Health Organization (WHO) 24-hour limits.

The risks of indoor pollutants is not a new area and has already been identified by WHO as a health hazard. In the UK, Public Health England is also in the final stages of producing a report on the impact of the domestic indoor environment on health. This will be published before Christmas.

Awbi said failing to ensure properties have sufficient ventilation is storing up future health problems.

“Many people spend 70-80 per cent of their time at home, or even as much as 90 per cent indoors if you include workplaces.

“Given that the average person takes in 500 litres of air an hour, if the air you are breathing in is polluted, you can imagine how much of this pollution is going to be absorbed.”

He warned airtight houses could be causing indoor air quality to deteriorate drastically as pollutants are unable to disperse quickly.

Professor Peter Howarth, a professor of allergy and respiratory diseases at Southampton University agreed with Awbi. He said humidity due to poor ventilation can cause mould or house dust mites, exacerbating asthma and other allergies.

Additionally, formaldehyde, a toxic gas emitted by wooden furniture could cause significant health problems.

Andrew Proctor, director of advice and support at Asthma UK, said: “We know that indoor exposure to allergens can be a real problem for some people with asthma, but it is difficult to avoid them.”

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