Shanghai plans to launch a survey of the indoor air quality in downtown office buildings and publish a list of buildings where air doesn't meet health standards, according to a local environment association.

 

The project aims to improve the general air quality of office buildings as a recent survey shows that most professionals are not satisfied with the air quality in their offices.

 

"We want to promote public awareness of building a healthy working environment," said Wang Fang, an official with the Shanghai Association of Environmental Protection Industries who is in charge of the project.

 

During the survey, environmental experts from the association will use scientific devices to test the density of harmful chemicals in the air within a batch of downtown office buildings. They will also design a questionnaire to ask people working in office buildings about their health.

 

Wang said the association is currently picking the buildings it will study during the survey, which will begin later this year.

 

The ultimate purpose of the survey is to stimulate building managers to improve the maintenance of air-conditioning systems or to install air purifying equipment.

 

Wang said the project was inspired by Hong Kong's action during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003. During that period, Hong Kong initiated a citywide survey of indoor air quality in major office buildings.

 

According to a recent preliminary survey of 100 randomly selected professionals in office buildings in Xujiahui and the Bund, some 70 respondents said they were not happy with the ventilation system in their office and 60 respondents said they were victims of second hand smoke.

 

Poor air quality is caused by the use of substandard materials during construction, poor maintenance of air-conditioning systems, and ineffective ventilation systems, experts said.

 

"I am very curious about the sanitation of our central air conditioning system as I never noticed our property guys cleaning them," said Wang Jianqun, a professional working in a highrise office building near People's Square.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2007)