Pure air

Solutions for indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is recognised as one of the top five environmental risks to public health. In Australia, the CSIRO estimates it could cost us approximately $12 billion a year in health costs and lost production. This figure is only estimated because there’s little data available so far on the level of pollutants in Australian homes and the number of people affected.

Studies so far have established that some air pollutants are more highly concentrated indoors than outdoors, particularly in new and newly renovated buildings, mobile homes, houses heated with unflued gas appliances, and in households where people smoke.

Australians may spend 90% or more of our time indoors, where air pollution levels can be worse than outdoors.

Health effects

Symptoms can be mild and non-specific such as headaches, tiredness or lethargy; similar to colds and flu such as irritated eyes, nose or throat; or more severe such as aggravation of asthma or allergic responses. People who are generally more sensitive to air pollutants include newborns and young children, elderly people, heart patients, people with bronchitis, asthma, hay fever or emphysema, and smokers.