Putney Society Considers How Clean is the Air in Our Homes
Council’s Air Quality Team explain the dangers of interior pollution
Air quality can be affected by cooking, cleaning products and heating. Picture: Putney Society
October 16, 2026
Indoor air quality will take centre stage at the Putney Society’s October open meeting, with Wandsworth Council’s Air Quality Team set to explain what really ends up in the air we breathe behind closed doors. While many people associate pollution with busy roads and outdoor environments, the council says the list of indoor sources is far longer than most expect — and often hiding in plain sight.
Everyday activities such as cooking dinner, drying clothes, using cleaning sprays or lighting a wood burner all release particles and gases into the air. Polluted outdoor air also finds its way inside. Volatile organic compounds can off-gas from furniture, paint and building materials. Fuel and gas appliances, mould, dust mites, pets, smoking or vaping, attached garages, pesticides, fragrances, air fresheners, essential oils and candles all contribute to the mix. After years of monitoring pollution on Putney High Street, the Society is inviting residents to turn their attention to the air on the other side of their own front doors.
Jason Andrews from Wandsworth Council’s Environmental Health Team — and the Love Clean Air website — will speak at the meeting, offering practical guidance on how to reduce exposure and improve indoor air quality.
The event takes place on Monday 26 October at 7.30pm, with refreshments from 7.15pm, at Community Church, Werter Road, SW15 2LL.
The meeting is open to everyone, members and non-members alike.
Putney Society, a registered charity, is an amenity society run by volunteers to preserve and enhance our local heritage and community.
The Putney Society’s website contains more information about many other local issues and how to become a member.
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