While the air quality in Beijing remains poor, the technology to monitor it keeps getting better.

 

The latest breakthrough has come in the shape of a device that instantly measures and visualizes air quality, enabling the public to know exactly what they are inhaling.

 

After a successful trial in a shopping center, officials at the Haidian District Sanitation Supervision Institute are ready to roll out the device, the first of its kind in China, across the city.

 

"The use of the system is a step forward in building a long-term mechanism to detect and control air quality in large and crowded places like shopping centers," said Han Hongxing, an official with the institute.

 

Humidity levels, temperature, amounts of carbon dioxide, noise and germs can all be monitored and updated every one or two hours, Han explained. Results are shown on an electronic board.

 

"Consumers said they were pleased, and indeed felt honored, to read the board," Xin Jimin, manager of Shuang'an Department Store, said.

 

After a trial starting May 2, Xin said the device has attracted more customers to his store.

 

Han suggested all indoor public places bigger than 6,000 square meters should be equipped with the system, so as to guarantee customers timely air quality information.

 

Last November, the institute sparked public concern with the release of a report saying the air in eight shopping centers in Beijing, picked at random, contained high levels of unhealthy elements and did not meet environmental standards.

 

The new air quality monitoring system, Han said, is an updated and improved version of the devise used in the surveyed places last year.

 

However, experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Haidian District doubted the feasibility of the system.

 

"As of now, there is still a lack of official data examining the accuracy of the system," Xu Dongfang, an expert on environment sanitation under the Haidian CDC, said.

 

Wang Diange, an engineer involved in the development of the system, argued that the product has been given China Metrology Accreditation, proving the product's stability and accuracy. But he also admitted that as of now, the product has not been certified by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

 

"It's just a time issue," said Wang, hinting that the application was being processed.

 

(China Daily May 23, 2006)