Air Quality: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
Air Quality: what people commonly get wrong, set against what published UK guidance says.
It is associated with worsening asthma and COPD and with cardiovascular events, and indoor sources are frequently overlooked.
Key takeaways
- Main outdoor pollutants of concern: particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide
- Indoor sources: cooking, wood burning, candles, damp and mould
- Most useful single change: Ventilate while cooking and after showering.
- Commonest mistake: Wood and coal burning indoors where avoidable.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What the guidance actually says
Before the corrections, the published figures. Everything below is measured against these.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Main outdoor pollutants of concern | particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide |
| Indoor sources | cooking, wood burning, candles, damp and mould |
| Damp and mould | associated with respiratory illness, especially in children |
| Landlords in England | legally required to address damp and mould hazards |
Where people go wrong
These are widely believed and not supported by the guidance above.
- Wood and coal burning indoors where avoidable
- Drying washing indoors without ventilation
- Ignoring visible mould growth
What to do instead
- Ventilate while cooking and after showering
- Address damp and mould at source rather than painting over it
- Check local air quality forecasts if you have asthma or COPD
- Use quieter roads and back streets when walking or cycling
The part that is genuinely uncertain
Guidance changes, and it changes because evidence does. The figures above reflect current UK guidance from the bodies named at the foot of this page; where those bodies revise their position, theirs is the account to follow rather than this one.
Where to go next
- Air Quality: A Practical Checklist
- The First Steps With Air Quality
- Air Quality — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Pneumonia, Without the Hype
- Breathing Exercises: What Published Guidance Supports
When to speak to a doctor
Contact a GP if your asthma or COPD symptoms worsen with air quality, and follow your action plan. If you live in rented housing with damp or mould, report it to your landlord in writing; in England they are legally required to act. Call 999 for severe breathlessness or inability to speak in full sentences.
Where this comes from
- UK Health Security Agency — air pollution and health
- Asthma + Lung UK — air pollution
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
