Poor air quality has been highlighted as the world’s greatest environmental health risk, linked with serious health consequences. While the focus tends to be on outdoor air quality, indoor air quality (IAQ) is of increasing importance given that we spend ~ 90% of our time indoors. In addition to outdoor air pollution coming indoors, there are a range of other sources of poor IAQ. IAQ can be significantly affected by poor building conditions as a result of damp and mould. Alongside this, poor IAQ can arise from indoor generated emissions from building materials, cleaning products, cooking and heating, and tobacco products.

With funding from Beyond: Cheshire and Merseyside ICB Children and Young People’s Transformation programme (a programme across Cheshire and Merseyside, which aims to help improve people’s health and their experiences of care), a campaign was delivered to improve the IAQ in more than 200 homes across Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington. Using digital technology, the aim was to improve respiratory health for children (under 11 years). 

In 2022, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust commissioned Lancaster University with NAQTS (National Air Quality Testing Services Ltd.) to deliver an evaluation of the campaign. IAQ monitor data was shared with NAQTS who analysed this to understand IAQ in households at the start of the campaign, and to assess IAQ changes following their installation. Interviews and focus groups took place with staff involved with the campaign’s delivery, and with tenants who had monitors installed.

This is a report of an independent evaluation, funded and commissioned under the Beyond: Cheshire and Merseyside ICB Children and Young People’s Transformation programme.