Families from deprived areas and ethnic minorities face the worse indoor air quality, York research finds

Posted on Thursday 13 November 2025

High concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were discovered by research experts in the homes of 309 families participating in the long-term Born in Bradford health study – with recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines exceeded on 41% of all monitored days.

Devastating impact

The study, part of the INGENIOUS research programme, used data from one of the largest and most detailed indoor air quality investigations to take place in the UK.

PM2.5 is regarded as a major contributor to premature deaths worldwide and is linked to a wide range of serious health concerns, such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, strokes, respiratory disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and potentially dementia and diabetes.

The new research has further highlighted the need for prompt policy action, with the INGENIOUS team now urging the government to fully address what is a frequently overlooked health risk.

Addressing inequalities

The study involved a consortium of partner universities and institutions led by the University of York, with the group including representatives from the universities of Cambridge, Manchester and Sheffield, as well as Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Born in Bradford (BiB). It also has support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The group wants to see a national public awareness campaign to promote the adoption of cleaner air measures and technologies, while also addressing the underlying socioeconomic inequalities that can contribute to high indoor air pollution.

INGENIOUS Project Lead, Professor Nicola Carslaw from the University of York, said: “This research highlights disparities in exposure to common indoor air pollutants. It highlights the need for a more holistic approach to developing policies that mitigate exposure to air pollution. We must develop policies that address air pollution from all angles, both inside and outside our homes, to better protect all households."

Overlooked risk

Born in Bradford Principal Research Fellow Rachael Cheung, who led the paper, explained the impact on communities in Bradford was uneven and some people were more at risk than others

She said: “Our research indicates that indoor air quality isn't as good as we might hope, and that it affects some communities more than others. Since people tend to spend most of their time indoors, this could pose a serious, yet often overlooked, health risk.”

The study, titled ‘Inequalities and indoor air pollution: A prospective observational study of particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in 309 UK homes from the Born in Bradford cohort study’, is part of the INGENIOUS (Understanding the sources, transformations and fates of indoor air pollutants) project. 

Alarming results 

INGENIOUS aims to help us better understand how the composition and concentration of indoor air pollutants vary and how this exposure affects people in their homes, with a focus on homes in the city of Bradford.

The research could be transformative for families, according to Born in Bradford Director, Professor Rosie McEachan.

She explained: “The levels of pollution that families are exposed to every day indoors are alarming. Pollution is a major cause of respiratory illness in the UK, and our findings suggest that if we can clean up the air inside our homes, we can dramatically improve the health of families.”

Timely research

The study, published in BMC Public Health, found:

• Differences in PM2.5 levels between ethnic groups, with South Asian homes found to have higher daily average concentrations than homes of White British and other ethnic groups.
• Homes located in more deprived regions had a higher daily average PM2.5 concentration than those in less deprived regions within the city. 
• Higher PM2.5 levels were discovered in rented homes compared to owned homes.

Levels of PM2.5 were also higher in households where the residents smoked, where the homes were either terraced or semi-detached, and in homes with a gas stove.