AIR in your House could be making you Sick:15 million Homes are affected by Toxic Home Syndrome

The air circulating in the home contains around 900 potentially harmful chemicals, particles and biological materials. Mould spores, pollen, gases including radon, carbon monoxide as well as compounds found in cleaning products all pose a risk, increasing the chance of cancer, cardiovascular disease and asthma.

Experts have warned around 15 million homes in the UK are affected by Toxic Home Syndrome, where the air has a detrimental affect on peoples' health.

 Professor Peter Howarth, a specialist in allergy and respiratory medicine at Southampton University, told MailOnline: 'Many people associate indoor air quality with more innocuous conditions such as eczema or asthma, however, I have seen many patients with serious health conditions due to pollutants within the home and the risk of cardiovascular disease should not be dismissed.'

'Toxic Home Syndrome occurs when individuals and families are exposed to a potent mix of airborne pollutants within the home arising from poor ventilation, causing respiratory and skin diseases to occur more frequently,' he said.  

 

'With respect to asthma, mould allergy is recognised to be associated with worse asthma and poorer asthma control. 

'The presence of moulds within the home is a reflection of poor ventilation and increased humidity. 

 

'Homes with mould are also likely to have higher house dust mite allergen levels and this may worsen both respiratory and skin conditions. 

 

'The lack of adequate ventilation within the home can also be associated with the build up of non-allergenic noxious fumes which are detrimental to health.'

He urged people to assess the systems they have in their homes, and called for new homes to come with a 'Healthy Home Mark', as an indication of good ventilation.   

 

'I advise my patients to prioritise good household ventilation – assess the systems your home has in place and look to update them if they are faulty or out of date,' he told MailOnline.

 

'I would also like to see a 'Healthy Home Mark' on new homes to confirm that they have mechanical ventilation systems with effective heat exchange installed – to help reduce the health risks for future generations.'
 

 Credit: Mailonline