Good practice guide to raise awareness of indoor air quality on the health and well-being of ethnic minorities

Examining how cultural practices affect indoor air quality in ethnic minority households.

Previous research funded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) conducted by project lead, Satish BK, and continued by the Welsh School of Architecture, has shown that carbon dioxide levels in UK houses inhabited by British Asian families can reach three times the level of White British homes because of cooking and ventilation practices.

Such practices can result in health risks and dampness, leading to mould. The problem is further exacerbated in modern energy-efficient and air-tight homes, leading to poor indoor environmental conditions.

Developing good practices to improve indoor air quality

This project helped develop an awareness of lifestyle adoption to allow cultural behaviour to continue but enable a better quality of internal air quality for ethnic minority households.

Key Achievements of the project included developing a Good Practice Guide in collaboration with Cardiff Council, the Ethnic Youth Support Team Wales (EYST), and the Welsh Government. The guide offers culturally sensitive recommendations for residents and decision-makers to improve indoor air quality and living conditions. Cardiff Council continue to disseminate the guide at public roadshows across the city.

The project team conducted targeted engagement with local residents, ensuring ethnic minority communities and housing associations were informed about practical strategies to enhance wellbeing.

Read the full key outputs of the project, including the Good Practice Guide

Next steps

The next steps could include obtaining funding to scale up research to investigate ventilation at a housing stock level, enhance collaboration with landlords who work with diverse ethnic groups to improve housing quality, and further explore the influence of user behaviour and lifestyle on indoor environmental quality.

Contact

For more information about this project, contact: