Escaping Delhi's air outside? Your living room might be more polluted than a traffic jam

When we think of air pollution, smoggy skylines, traffic snarls, and industrial chimneys come to mind. But the truth, as startling as it is overlooked, lies closer than we imagine—right inside our homes. According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, the air indoors—where we spend up to 90% of our lives—is often far more polluted than the air outside. And yet, while we invest in diet plans, yoga mats, and ergonomic chairs, we rarely think about the very air we breathe at home.

It’s a curious paradox in the age of wellness: we are what we breathe, but what we breathe indoors is often neglected.

The Invisible Threat Floating Inside Our Living Rooms
Indoor air pollution doesn’t come from just one source—it’s a cocktail of cooking fumes, cleaning agents, poor ventilation, and even our fancy laser printers. The report highlights that everyday tasks such as heating, cleaning, or even lighting a scented candle can release harmful air pollutants. These pollutants are linked to respiratory diseases, disturbed sleep, impaired cognition, and even mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Yet, indoor air quality is rarely addressed in public health discourse, often taking a backseat to outdoor pollution policies.

“Indoor environments can be the main contributor to people’s individual exposure to air pollution,” the report notes, warning that failing to address indoor pollution leaves behind the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those from low-income communities.

Delhi: Where Clean Air Is a Luxury, But Not a Guarantee
Take Delhi, for example—infamous for its outdoor air pollution. But an old BBC report citing research by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute shows that the problem inside homes is just as alarming. The study found that even in wealthier Delhi households equipped with air purifiers, indoor air pollution was only marginally lower—about 10% less—than in poorer homes. “Whether someone is rich or poor, no one gets to breathe clean air,” said Dr. Kenneth Lee, lead researcher on the study.

Even worse, many households declined to use indoor air quality monitors offered for free, suggesting a dangerous lack of awareness. It’s a lifestyle blind spot—when people don’t know what they’re inhaling, they don’t feel compelled to take action.

Your Home, Your Micro-Climate
What makes indoor air pollution particularly tricky is its complexity. The mix of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and gases like nitrogen dioxide varies from one home to another, and these pollutants often interact in unpredictable ways. Ironically, even energy-efficient modern homes—designed to be tightly sealed for climate control—can become air traps, where poor ventilation leads to pollutant build-up. Cooking with gas, using certain paints, or heating with old appliances can all contribute to harmful indoor air, sometimes with levels 2 to 12 times higher than the outdoor air.

From Wellness Products to Wellness Air
So, what can be done? The World Economic Forum outlines a lifestyle-oriented response. The first step is awareness—knowing that your home’s air quality matters just as much as your diet or daily steps. With smart sensors and IoT-based air quality monitors now entering the market, tracking indoor pollution is no longer exclusive to labs or luxury homes. However, technology alone isn’t enough.

Behavioral shifts matter too. Whether it’s reducing the use of wood-burning stoves, investing in better ventilation systems, or simply being more mindful of what we cook and clean with, small changes can go a long way. But cultural sensitivity is key—especially in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where over 3 billion people still rely on solid fuels for cooking and heating. Solutions need to be affordable, accessible, and respectful of local traditions.