Household air pollution and adult respiratory health

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In modern society, we spend most of our time indoors, especially in the home environment. Since most studies on respiratory effects of household air pollution (HAP) have investigated children, more studies are needed on HAP and adult respiratory health, especially prospective studies. One review concluded that the indoor factors most consistently associated with adult asthma include fuel combustion, dampness and mould, and second hand tobacco smoke (SHS) [1]. Another recent review concluded that SHS increases the risk of asthma exacerbations, respiratory symptoms and healthcare utilisation, and that other indoor pollutants, such as heating sources and mould, can negatively impact the course of asthma [2].