Ahead of this year’s event on 21 June, Global Action Plan, the organisation behind Clean Air Day, has launched a campaign highlighting the dangers of indoor air pollution. When thinking of air pollution, most of us probably think about traffic and industry belching out thick black fumes but indoor air pollution is an invisible danger.

Air pollution is a major problem throughout the UK and beyond, causing harm, and even death, to thousands of people each year. But, Clean Air Day, which this year takes place on 21 June, aims to raise awareness of the problem as well as encouraging people to take simple steps to reduce the pollution they create.

The annual event, Clean Air Day, takes place on 21 June. Organisers are urging people to leave their cars at home for the day after pollution-busting data gathered on the day of the London Marathon showed a huge drop in air pollutants during the largely traffic-free day.

Clean Air Day (21 June 2018) is an important event and has been put forward for debate in Parliament by MP, Helen Hayes. She proposed that the day should be both acknowledged and funded for its work in providing the public with independent, science-driven information and advice on issues of clean air and pollution.

In the first half of the 20th century, most air pollution was caused by industry. But the decline in heavy industry in the UK from the late 20th century onwards, combined with environmental regulation, has significantly reduced this particular danger to our health. Now, however, we face dangers from air pollution of a different sort, and most of this comes from within our own homes.

The majority of the world’s population breathes air that is harmful, according to a major new study. The State of Global Air report, released in April 2018 by the Health Effects Institute, estimates that 95% of people around the globe live in areas where concentrations of fine particulate matter, such as dust or soot particles in the air, exceed the World Health Organization’s Air Quality Guideline of 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m3).

The air quality in our homes is something we frequently take for granted, but it's something we all need to think about. Studies show that the air indoors can be up to fifty times worse than the air outdoors, and yet we spend 90% of our lives inside, breathing in stale trapped air that could be contaminated with many different kinds of health hazards. The most common reaction to these hazards is an allergy, which in turn can lead to painful and debilitating attacks. But airborne hazards can also to other serious illnesses, including asthma and heart and lung disease.

When most people think of air pollution, they picture smog and traffic fumes, but did you know that indoor air quality can often be worse than outdoor air quality? Find out how a whole-house approach to ventilation can alleviate indoor air pollution.

Pollution can damage children's health even contributing to asthma but did you know indoor air pollutants are just as harmful? Everyone knows about outdoor air pollution and the harmful effects of particulate matter from such things as car exhausts, but the dangers from indoor air pollution can be equally harmful, especially for households with children.

Poor indoor air quality is a growing problem in UK homes, where a recent survey revealed that 20% of householders reported that they experienced condensation and mould growth in the home.

Allergies are extremely commonplace, with over 44% of adults in the UK suffering from them at some point in their lives. But we still don't know exactly why we develop them. Alarmingly, the number of allergy sufferers is growing with every year. Children are particularly susceptible to allergies. However, these can often disappear as they get older. By the same token, people can sometimes develop allergies in later life that they never had before. The actual triggers are hard to decipher, although pre-existing hereditary conditions and environmental factors seem to make a vital contribution.

A healthy life is a happy life. You may not realise it, but the air you breathe inside your home could be harming you and your family in a number of different ways. Nothing could be more important than the air you breathe, so make it your resolution to improve the air quality in your home. Here are some tips to help you out in your planning.