Air pollution at home
If you have a lung condition, you may find certain building materials trigger your symptoms. Building materials such as asbestos and radon are a serious risk to your lung health.
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products has suggestions for safe, environmentally-friendly building products.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a risk to lung health. It has been banned in the UK since 1999, but older properties may still have asbestos in them.
Before we knew about the dangers of asbestos, it was often used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing, and sprayed on ceilings and walls. Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to lung conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
If you find asbestos in your home, make sure you don’t disturb it. If it’s damaged, get it removed by professionals. We have more detailed information on what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to asbestos.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass is a type of building insulation. Like asbestos, if you move it, or break it up it gives out dust which can be easily breathed in. Fibreglass is safer than asbestos, but it still comes with risks. It can irritate the airways, and if you have a lung condition and breathe it in, you may find your symptoms get worse.
If you have fibreglass in your home, don’t touch it. If you need to come into contact with it, wear a mask and protective clothing.
Radon
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that comes from rocks and soil in granite areas. You can’t see it or smell it. Certain areas of the UK have higher levels of radon. The radon level in the air we breathe outside is very low, but it can be higher inside poorly aired buildings.
High levels of exposure for long periods of time may put you at risk of developing lung cancer.
If your home is built on ground with a higher level of radon, you can take measures to reduce it. Find out more at UKradon.
Indoor radon often varies from building to building. If your home is affected, UKradon has a tool to help you decide if you need to reduce the level and how.
