Discover forthcoming webinar: Innovative Initiative focusing on indoor air quality in residential housing projects

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is hosting a webinar titled "Beyond Awaab's Law: Priorities for Indoor Air Quality Actions in the UK", which aims to address critical issues, findings, and strategic discussions around improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in the UK.

Prof. Sani Dimitroulopoulou, Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist on Indoor Environments within the Air Quality and Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department (EHE), UKHSA, will be one of the speakers at the event. The INGENIOUS project, led by Prof. Nic Carslaw, a specialist in Indoor Air Chemistry at the University of York, is dedicated to investigating the impact of household activities on airborne pollutants and developing practical interventions to minimize exposure.

The webinar is timely as it aligns with the ongoing consultation process of the 2023 Social Housing law, also known as Awaab's law. This legislation was proposed into Parliament after a tragic incident where two-year-old Awaab Ishak lost his life due to a respiratory condition caused by mould in his home. The webinar offers a platform to present INGENIOUS observations on indoor pollutants and how these cut across all sorts of housing in the UK.

Poor IAQ remains a significant public health concern in the UK, contributing to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and overall reduced wellbeing. Certain populations, including children, the elderly, and those in social housing, experience disproportionate exposure to harmful pollutants indoors. Awaab's Law, prompted by tragic circumstances involving mould in social housing, underscores the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that ensure prompt remediation of indoor environmental hazards.

The webinar will discuss the importance of IAQ in various types of houses, including social housing, private rented homes, and owner-occupied homes. It will highlight the challenges that exist in the current policies and practices, such as inconsistent enforcement and monitoring across housing sectors, and the need for integrated policies that tie together housing standards, health services, and environmental regulations.

The discussions will also focus on enhancing funding and monitoring in social housing sectors to address IAQ disparities, targeting vulnerable demographics with tailored interventions, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, community engagement, awareness, research, and innovation.

The webinar is being delivered in partnership with Born in Bradford and Stockholm Environment Institute. Scientists from the University of York, University of Manchester, the University of Sheffield, and the University of Cambridge will be delivering the webinar. Prof. Sarah West is the Centre Director at SEI York, and Prof. Nicholas Pleace is the Director of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York. Dr. Chantelle Wood, a social psychologist at the University of Sheffield, will also be participating in the event.

Michael Gove launched a consultation on Awaab's Law, and the UK Housing Secretary launched a consultation on the implementation of the Social Housing law on 9th January, 2024. The webinar aims to sensitize participants on the importance of IAQ for the UK housing sector, as there are no existing singular legislative frameworks for IAQ. Iyus sugiharto is the photographer for the article's featured image.

Overall, the webinar emphasizes that while Awaab's Law marks important progress, sustained and comprehensive actions involving policy, enforcement, technology, and community engagement are essential to significantly improve indoor air quality and public health outcomes across the UK.

Discover forthcoming webinar: Innovative Initiative focusing on indoor air quality in residential housing projects