HL Deb 03 May 2001 vol 625 cc142-3WA
Lord Lewis of Newnham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What research programmes they currently fund into individual human exposure to air pollution in households in the United Kingdom; and what plans exist for further research. [HL1960]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

In 1997, a joint Department of Health and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions research programme was commissioned. This programme,The effects on health of exposure to air pollutants and damp in the home, focused on indoor air pollution and its effects on health. Effects on sensitive individuals in the population, interactions between indoor air pollutants and health effects of damp were focused upon. Fourteen new projects were funded, at a total cost of 1.3 million.

This programme is now beginning to produce results which will be reviewed by the Departments and will be used both to inform policy and to determine requirements for further research where necessary.

Lord Lewis of Newnham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to evaluate, or establish, health-based air quality standards for indoor air pollutants. [HL1961]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000, sets standards for main outdoor air pollutants. It does not, however, set standards for indoor air pollutants. This is not because the quality of indoor air is not important to health. It is because it is impracticable to measure concentrations of pollutants inside peoples' homes on the same scale that has been measured for outdoor pollutants and it would not be easy to regulate levels of indoor pollutants.

The results of a joint Department of Health and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions research programme, The effects on health of exposure to air pollutants and damp in the home, that focuses on indoor air pollution and its effects on health, will go some way to identifying key issues and concerns of indoor air pollution. This information will be important in future decisions on setting guidelines for indoor air pollutants.