Odour and hot weather

There are many things that smell strongly but have no direct harmful effects to health. However, as the human nose is very sensitive, some strong smells can be really unpleasant and people report suffering stress and anxiety or otherwise feeling unwell, for instance feeling sick, dizzy, having headaches. This is even though the substances causing the smells are not harmful to health.

Other short-term health effects reported as a result of strong odours include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. People who have health conditions that affect breathing, such as asthma, may find symptoms more severe or long lasting. When exposure is reduced, the symptoms usually reduce or go away too.

We know in very hot or cold weather having windows or doors open or shut has an impact, and realistically making sure the balance between odour reduction and maintaining a comfortable temperature will be something individuals will need to manage themselves.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advice on limiting the effects of odour during hot conditions:

We recommend that residents:

keep doors and windows closed when odour levels are noticeable to stop the odour from entering
draw curtains to limit direct sunlight heating-up internal surfaces
use fans to recirculate air within the house to help keep cool
set any air conditioning (preferably fitted with a HEPA filter) to recirculate mode
take a break from the heat by moving to a cooler part of the house
open windows when the air feels cooler and when the odour reduces to get air flowing through the home,

Further information on actions you can take to stay safe in hot weather can be found here Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather - GOV.UK

Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances, feel unwell or require health support.