Society

Keep indoor air clean lest be ill

By Xiao Wang (China Daily Shanghai Bureau)
Updated: 2010-05-31 16:41

SHANGHAI: Nearly half of population in the world lives with indoor air pollution, and about 4 percent of diseases have connections to indoor air quality, experts said.

"People spent more than 80 percent of their lifetime indoors, and infants, pregnant and old people spent more. So a healthy indoor environment is quite important," Song Weimin, professor with Public Health College of Fudan University said,

"However, many indoor pollution sources are ignored by people in their daily life, such as air conditioner, where bacterias are easily produced and causing various respiratory diseases."

Experts advise residents to keep their air conditioner clean and change the filter regularly so as to reduce the risk of illness caused by indoor air pollution.

A five-year program that aims to raise public awareness of indoor environment and guard against air pollution caused by air conditioner was launched recently by China Health Education Center. The Health Home Plan will be carried out in the country's 13 cities, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Wuhan.

Under the plan, related-health knowledge publicity and training will be given to local communities and health organizations.

In future years, the program's focus will also expand to pollution from home decoration materials, kitchen and bathroom, and electrical appliances.