What's In Indoor Air?
Polluted outdoor air doesn’t stop at the school gates; it enters buildings through cracks, windows, on clothing and shoes. It is also generated inside buildings, so, unsurprisingly, Indoor air can be five to 100 times worse than outdoor pollution. Indoor air pollution is an invisible threat that must be addressed. Its effects can be subtle, starting with short-term health problems for students and staff, building to reduced attendance, test scores, and chronic disease.
Indoor air can contain:
Pollen
Released by plants and trees.
Mould and fungus
Resulting from damp, poorly ventilated buildings.
Dust
Includes particles like clothing fibers, pet dander, wind-blown soil and dust mites.
Smoke
Most particulate emissions in the UK come from burning wood and coal in domestic fires and stoves and fireplaces.
Viruses and bacteria
Spread through the air when people breathe, and can linger for hours.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Emitted from indoor products like paints, cleaning supplies, and furnishings.
Carbon Dioxide
Produced by breathing and stoves.
Carbon Monoxide
Emitted by combustion appliances like stoves and heaters.
Nitrogen Dioxide
From road traffic and coal-fired power plants.
Radon
A radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into buildings.
Formaldehyde
Emitted from building materials and household products