EXPERT INSIGHT
improving air quality Larissa Lockwood, director of clean air at Global Action Plan, imparts advice
There are so many indoor air pollutants, we need to look comprehensively at how we build our homes, heat them, cook and behave at home, so we can start to eliminate them.
1
Cooking can cause crazy peaks to indoor air pollution. Burning the toast, for example, will send it through the roof – if you burn something, open the back door, get the children out and close the door to the rest of the house. What and how you’re cooking makes a big difference – for example, batch cooking and using lids uses less fuel. The main things you can do are to switch from gas to induction, use the extractor and avoid burning things.
2
Think carefully about the products you bring into your home: there is currently no pollution labelling system, but a strong smell is a good indicator of higher pollution levels. With personal care products, avoid sprays or anything scented – choose roll-on deodorants over aerosols, hair gel over hairspray. If a product can’t be swapped out, keep the bathroom door closed and the children out when using it. With cleaning products, choose mild, more natural ones. A wet E-cloth is better than a lot of products, and vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda all do a pretty good job.
3
If buying furniture or flooring, you ideally want solid wood and natural fibres. Any wood-based product containing glue – for example, MDF, laminate and chipboard – will have a high formaldehyde content. Ask your builder or manufacturer if it meets European standards for formaldehyde, which are more rigorous than others – and ventilate once it’s in place. Consider buying second-hand furniture, which has already done its off-gassing, though avoid items from smokers’ homes, which will off-gas third-hand smoke.
4
Carpets are traps for pollutants such as dust and mould, and all will have had treatments applied. If buying a new carpet, try to look for more natural-based treatments, ask to have it aired first and ventilate well when laid.
5
Air pollution monitors can be useful, particularly if you’re sensitive, but no domestic monitor will measure all pollutants. Commissioning an indoor air quality audit can be helpful and should advise on how to reduce pollutants in your home.