NewsResearchUK report highlights impact of poor air quality on inequality, wellbeing, and productivity

A new report from Clean Air South highlights the need to prioritise clean air strategies to tackle health inequalities, boost wellbeing, and improve workplace productivity.
Content Team1 month ago4 min

A new report from Clean Air South highlights how air pollution in southern England exacerbates health inequalities, particularly in deprived areas. The findings suggest that poor air quality not only impacts physical health but also hampers productivity, focus, and overall wellbeing—issues that extend to indoor environments, including workplaces.

Air Pollution and Health Inequalities

The report, developed in partnership with the University of Southampton and local authorities, reveals that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution contributes to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the UK. In urban areas such as Southampton and Portsmouth, air pollution levels are significantly higher than in rural regions, with disadvantaged communities bearing the brunt of the issue. Factors such as proximity to busy roads, limited access to green space, and inadequate housing ventilation compound the problem.

Professor John Boswell, one of the report’s authors, underscores the unfair distribution of risks: “Those who contribute least to the problem are the most exposed to it and the most vulnerable to its damaging effects.”

When it comes to the office, workplaces with poor air quality have been linked to increased sick days, reduced concentration, and lower job satisfaction. Research suggests that simple interventions, such as improving ventilation and reducing indoor pollutants, can lead to noticeable improvements in employee performance and wellbeing.

Steps towards cleaner indoor environments

Employers and building managers can play a key role in mitigating these impacts by prioritising clean air strategies in the workplace. Measures include:

  • Upgrading ventilation systems: Ensuring sufficient airflow to remove indoor pollutants.
  • Using low-emission materials: Selecting paints, adhesives, and furniture that emit fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Monitoring air quality: Installing IAQ sensors to identify problem areas and respond quickly.
  • Incorporating greenery: Plants not only improve aesthetics but can also help filter indoor air.

A call for collaboration

The Clean Air South report emphasises the need for coordinated action between government, industry, and local stakeholders to address air pollution more broadly. These efforts must also extend indoors, where the quality of the air we breathe is equally critical to health and productivity.

You can read the full report here.

Content Team

Work in Mind is a content platform designed to give a voice to thinkers, businesses, journalists and regulatory bodies in the field of healthy buildings.

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