Ingenious: UnderstandING the sourcEs, traNsformations and fates of IndOor air pollUtantS
Lead Research Organisation:
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Department Name: Bradford Institute for Health Research
Abstract
In developed countries such as the UK, we spend 90% of our time indoors with approximately two thirds of this in our homes. Despite this fact, most air pollutant regulation focuses on the outdoor environment. There is increasing evidence that exposure to air pollution causes a range of health effects, but uncertainties on the causal effects of individual pollutants on specific health outcomes still exist partly due to crude exposure metrics. Nearly all studies of health effects to date have used measurements from fixed outdoor air pollution monitoring networks, a procedure that ignores the modification effects of indoor microenvironments where people spend most of their time. There are consequently large uncertainties surrounding human exposure to indoor air pollution, which means we are currently unable to identify the most effective solutions to design, operate and use our homes to minimise our exposure to air pollution within them.
In the UK, there are virtually no data to quantify indoor air pollutant emissions, building-to-building variability of these, chemical speciation of indoor pollutants, ingress of outdoor pollution indoors or of indoor generated pollutants outdoors, or the social, economic or lifestyle factors that can lead to elevated pollutant exposures. Without a fundamental understanding of how indoor air pollution is caused, transformed and distributed in UK homes, research aiming to develop behavioural, technical or policy interventions may have little impact, or at worst be counterproductive. For example, energy efficiency measures are broadly designed to make buildings more airtight. However, given that the concentrations of many air pollutants are often higher indoors than outdoors, reducing ventilation rates may increase our exposure to air pollution indoors and to any potentially harmful effects of the resulting pollutant mixture. Further, if interventions are introduced without sufficient consideration of how occupants actually use and behave in a building, they may fail to achieve the desired effect. To understand and improve indoor air quality (IAQ), we must adopt a systems approach that considers both the home and the human.
There is a particular paucity of data for the most deprived households in the UK. There is a facile assumption that poorer homes are likely to experience worse IAQ than better off households, although the reality may be considerably more nuanced. Lower quality housing may be leakier than more expensive homes allowing indoor emissions to escape more easily, whilst large, expensive town-houses converted to flats can be badly ventilated following poor retrofitting practices. Differences in cooking practices, smoking rates, internal building materials and the usage of solvent containing products indoors will also be subject to wide variations across populations and hence have differential effects on IAQ and pollutant exposure. In fact, differences in individual behaviour lead to large variations in indoor concentrations of air pollutants even for identical houses, typically driven by the frequency and diversity of personal care product use.
The INGENIOUS project will provide a comprehensive understanding of indoor pollution in UK homes, including i) the key sources relevant to the UK ii) the variability between homes in an ethnically diverse urban city, with a focus on deprived areas (using the ongoing Born in Bradford cohort study) iii) the effects of pollutant transformation indoors to generate by-products that may adversely affect health iv) the drivers of behaviours that impact on indoor air pollution (v) recommendations for interventions to improve IAQ that we have co-designed and tested with community members.
In the UK, there are virtually no data to quantify indoor air pollutant emissions, building-to-building variability of these, chemical speciation of indoor pollutants, ingress of outdoor pollution indoors or of indoor generated pollutants outdoors, or the social, economic or lifestyle factors that can lead to elevated pollutant exposures. Without a fundamental understanding of how indoor air pollution is caused, transformed and distributed in UK homes, research aiming to develop behavioural, technical or policy interventions may have little impact, or at worst be counterproductive. For example, energy efficiency measures are broadly designed to make buildings more airtight. However, given that the concentrations of many air pollutants are often higher indoors than outdoors, reducing ventilation rates may increase our exposure to air pollution indoors and to any potentially harmful effects of the resulting pollutant mixture. Further, if interventions are introduced without sufficient consideration of how occupants actually use and behave in a building, they may fail to achieve the desired effect. To understand and improve indoor air quality (IAQ), we must adopt a systems approach that considers both the home and the human.
There is a particular paucity of data for the most deprived households in the UK. There is a facile assumption that poorer homes are likely to experience worse IAQ than better off households, although the reality may be considerably more nuanced. Lower quality housing may be leakier than more expensive homes allowing indoor emissions to escape more easily, whilst large, expensive town-houses converted to flats can be badly ventilated following poor retrofitting practices. Differences in cooking practices, smoking rates, internal building materials and the usage of solvent containing products indoors will also be subject to wide variations across populations and hence have differential effects on IAQ and pollutant exposure. In fact, differences in individual behaviour lead to large variations in indoor concentrations of air pollutants even for identical houses, typically driven by the frequency and diversity of personal care product use.
The INGENIOUS project will provide a comprehensive understanding of indoor pollution in UK homes, including i) the key sources relevant to the UK ii) the variability between homes in an ethnically diverse urban city, with a focus on deprived areas (using the ongoing Born in Bradford cohort study) iii) the effects of pollutant transformation indoors to generate by-products that may adversely affect health iv) the drivers of behaviours that impact on indoor air pollution (v) recommendations for interventions to improve IAQ that we have co-designed and tested with community members.
Publications
Title | Born in Bradford Image Book |
Description | With a foreword from Professor John Wright, this book collates images of BiB participants taken by the photographer, Ian Beesley as they grow up |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Impact | Book for sale in local bookshops in Bradford |
URL | https://fliphtml5.com/btiog/qhoz/Born_in_Bradford_Book_100pp/ |
Description | Work featured in Chief Medical Officer annual report on Air Pollution (BiB Breathes and Ingenious) |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2022-air-pollution |
Description | UKRI Population Health Improvement Network |
Amount | £7,438,856 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/Y022785/1 |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2024 |
End | 03/2028 |
Description | BCB radio interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The purpose of this interview was to provide information about a new Born in Bradford project, INGENIOUS which included an overview of what this project is and what it aims to do. During the interview, a few questions are asked about whether and how Bradford families were involved and the importance of the work in understanding a lesser-known area compared to outdoor air pollution. The intended outcome was for audience to hear about INGENIOUS being carried out in the community, why it is important to health, and further the recognition of the work being done by Born in Bradford. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Born in Bradford Open Space Events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Over 50 families attended the Open Space Events in June and October 2022. At both events, members of the public said they found the displays very engaging and informing. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Born in Bradford engagement Event_3.7.23_4.7.23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | BiB event with each project having stalls to show case work. Healthy Places did an experiment with indoor air pollution and personal care products. Handed out the BiB breathes workbooks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Bradford Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We had two kids activities: "pollution catchers" and "paper chromatography" as well as one science exhibit using air quality monitors and posters to engage children and their caregivers to learn air pollution. They reported increased interest and knowledge in air pollutants from indoor and outdoor settings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Child Friendly Cities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This event was organised by Bradford's Local Authority, and over 250 people attended in Bradford City Football stadium where a range of stalls were displayed by a variety of partners on how they plan to contribute to the idea of a child friendly city. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Department of Environment and Geography, Unviersity of York. Born in Bradford: Can a research project change a city? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Seminar on Born in Bradford presented as part of the departmental seminar series |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Final presentation of winning teams_15.05.23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 11 schools participated in IVE and then presented in the final at Bradford City Hall |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | INGENIOUS animation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Using this animation, we aims to introduce the INGENIOUS project and explains what is involved for participants taking part in this study. Visual aids and audio included in the animation can allow the general public to understand the complexity of the INGENIOUS project easily within a short period of time (3 minutes). We use this animation to engage potential study participants and study members. By sharing this animation via social media channels, we can reach the awareness of the INGENIOUS project to the wider audience including children. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://youtu.be/d1uaQtLIt7E |
Description | Informing on research so far_18.1.24 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cathy presented findings of the research carried till date to PRAG group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Judging of Bradford College IVE presentations |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Pupils at Bradford College presented their ideas on methods to reduce air pollution |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Nicky Campbell programme BBC Radio 5 Live / BBC Two • 3rd Jul, 2023 • Broadcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Dr Jim McQuaid (Earth and Environment) provided scientific insight to a 5 Live phone-in examining the expansion of vehicle ultra low-emission zones in London and other towns and cities. Lots of mention to Born in Bradford and Bradford CAZ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Open Space event for general public_22.11.23 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cathy hosted a stall about the CAZ and methods to reduce air pollution |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | PRAG Meeting at Mayfield Centre_18.1.2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A focus group to ask the public what kind of interventions we could place in peoples home to improve the air quality. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Pollution Research Advisory Group Meetings |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Seven public members attended at both meetings and provided advice on how to engage families and communities for our INGENIOUS project. They are also interested to participate in our project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Presentation on behaviour change to 6th form students_19.1.24 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Cathy presented COM-B model |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Presenting info on health and safety aspects of school streets_30.11.2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cathy and Sophia presented information on health and safety of schools streets |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Stall at Bradford Science Festival_03.06.2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Cathy and Olivia were part of a group with Ingenious doing a stall at the science festival making air pollution monitors |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Visit from Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty - 10th March 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer came to visit Born in Bradford to hear about the BiB breathes project. He is writing his annual report on air quality and was interested to learn about our work in Bradford. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |