NCKU President Su gives a talk on air quality at ECCT - CNA
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) President Huey-Jen Jenny Su (蘇慧貞) recently stressed the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in the context of worsening outdoor air pollution over recent years at the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT), according to a press release from the school released Wednesday, March 9.
Su offered her advice on air quality issues: "Open your windows whenever possible, make sure you have sufficient ventilation of outdoor air and make use of fewer decorations and aromatic materials," she said.
Su also highlighted the significance of better management of indoor air quality, noting, "Many dollars can be saved and can be gained by simply treating the environment properly."
People spend most of their time inside buildings. Indoor air quality is therefore an important determinant of their health and well-being, according to Timothy Berge, co-chair of ECCT's Better Living Committee.
Freddie Hoglund, CEO of ECCT, said there are many reasons for the poor air quality in Taiwan; people often blame mainland China for the bad air. "Where does the pollution come from?" he asked.
Su provided some insight from research data and noted, "We often say that the poor air quality is linked to China in winter, but it is the summer time when the PM 2.5 level generally comes more from local sources."
Indoor Air Pollution
The government has sponsored the research into indoor air pollution and its related health effects for more than 20 years. "The data to support and lead to the announcement on the indoor air quality management was very much based on research conducted by my team and my colleagues over more than 15 years," said Su.
The establishment of the IAQ Law in 2011 makes Taiwan only the second country in the world after South Korea to introduce this kind of regulation, according to Su. Su also talked about the impact of climate change on indoor environments: "The increase of outdoor ozone levels is linked to the increase of indoor levels as well, and that also triggers the production of some secondary pollutant."
Climate change may worsen existing indoor environmental problems and introduce new problems. She said, "Increased flooding, typhoons or sea levels could be linked to either flooding or damage to buildings; that will then trigger the growth of indoor microbes or other bacteria and it will be then be more likely that we will see more cases of microbiology-related diseases or other health consequences."
The HVAC System
Su discussed typical IAQ issues around the world. "As you can see, many of them are associated with a failure to clean HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. I have seen this problem in Taipei regularly — even in some very expensive buildings — because no one really bothers to look into how frequently and which method to use to clean the HVAC systems," she said.
On the topic of insufficient ventilation, she added, "this is typical and I have seen it in both government buildings and in private building. Without proper or the adequate knowledge of ventilation, it will be another concern."
"We have been advocating for people and businesses to lower the amount of indoor decoration; that will be another primary strategy that people can easily adopt and use to manage their indoor environment," she said.
Su provided a take-home message to her audience: "Just be very alert to what your outdoor environment is and what your indoor situation is."
"In Taiwan, we would encourage people to open their windows whenever possible, and make sure they have sufficient ventilation coming in from outdoors and be careful to adorn their homes with less decoration and fewer aromatic materials," she said.
Su has devoted most of her research efforts to the topic of air pollution and related health effects, with particular emphasis on the rising global concerns about airborne microbial hazards. She was an expert member of the committee that prepared the World Health Organization report on Guidance for Biological Agents in the Indoor Environment.
She has also served on the National Committee for Air Pollution Abatement as well as the National Council for Sustainable Development where she advised and supervised national programs on assessing health risks associated with environmental exposure.
Su offered her advice on air quality issues: "Open your windows whenever possible, make sure you have sufficient ventilation of outdoor air and make use of fewer decorations and aromatic materials," she said.
Su also highlighted the significance of better management of indoor air quality, noting, "Many dollars can be saved and can be gained by simply treating the environment properly."
People spend most of their time inside buildings. Indoor air quality is therefore an important determinant of their health and well-being, according to Timothy Berge, co-chair of ECCT's Better Living Committee.
Freddie Hoglund, CEO of ECCT, said there are many reasons for the poor air quality in Taiwan; people often blame mainland China for the bad air. "Where does the pollution come from?" he asked.
Su provided some insight from research data and noted, "We often say that the poor air quality is linked to China in winter, but it is the summer time when the PM 2.5 level generally comes more from local sources."
Indoor Air Pollution
The government has sponsored the research into indoor air pollution and its related health effects for more than 20 years. "The data to support and lead to the announcement on the indoor air quality management was very much based on research conducted by my team and my colleagues over more than 15 years," said Su.
The establishment of the IAQ Law in 2011 makes Taiwan only the second country in the world after South Korea to introduce this kind of regulation, according to Su. Su also talked about the impact of climate change on indoor environments: "The increase of outdoor ozone levels is linked to the increase of indoor levels as well, and that also triggers the production of some secondary pollutant."
Climate change may worsen existing indoor environmental problems and introduce new problems. She said, "Increased flooding, typhoons or sea levels could be linked to either flooding or damage to buildings; that will then trigger the growth of indoor microbes or other bacteria and it will be then be more likely that we will see more cases of microbiology-related diseases or other health consequences."
The HVAC System
Su discussed typical IAQ issues around the world. "As you can see, many of them are associated with a failure to clean HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. I have seen this problem in Taipei regularly — even in some very expensive buildings — because no one really bothers to look into how frequently and which method to use to clean the HVAC systems," she said.
On the topic of insufficient ventilation, she added, "this is typical and I have seen it in both government buildings and in private building. Without proper or the adequate knowledge of ventilation, it will be another concern."
"We have been advocating for people and businesses to lower the amount of indoor decoration; that will be another primary strategy that people can easily adopt and use to manage their indoor environment," she said.
Su provided a take-home message to her audience: "Just be very alert to what your outdoor environment is and what your indoor situation is."
"In Taiwan, we would encourage people to open their windows whenever possible, and make sure they have sufficient ventilation coming in from outdoors and be careful to adorn their homes with less decoration and fewer aromatic materials," she said.
Su has devoted most of her research efforts to the topic of air pollution and related health effects, with particular emphasis on the rising global concerns about airborne microbial hazards. She was an expert member of the committee that prepared the World Health Organization report on Guidance for Biological Agents in the Indoor Environment.
She has also served on the National Committee for Air Pollution Abatement as well as the National Council for Sustainable Development where she advised and supervised national programs on assessing health risks associated with environmental exposure.
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