Statistics show that indoor air pollution has doubled over the past 15 years in surveyed cases in some developing countries and regions like China and India, according to a visiting Danish environment expert.

Each day about 5,000 people die of indoor air pollution, P. OleFanger, an expert from the Technical University of Denmark, said Thursday at an ongoing international seminar on architecture and urban environment.

Some 30 environmental experts attended discussions on "green" or environmentally friendly architecture involving issues like indoor environment and urban environment. They came from over 10 Chinese and foreign universities including those of Denmark, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States.

Fanger said that in many developing countries and regions, indoor environment has become worse because of polluting gases arising from cooking, toilet use and furniture which are posing serious threats to human health. Moreover, modern buildings have become more tightly closed for the purpose of energy efficiency, which therefore reduces ventilation.

He added that poisonous gases may leak from upholstery materials, modern office equipment and home electrical appliances, leading to the worsening of indoor pollution. People who inhale the gases may feel dizzy, fatigued and weary and thus become less efficient in work.

A person spends about 90 percent of his or her life indoors and is subject to a large amount of unclean gas. Zhu Neng, an environmental expert of Tianjin University, suggested people be conscientious and active to increase ventilation, the best way to improve indoor environment.

The seminar was co-sponsored by Tianjin University in Tianjin Municipality neighboring Beijing, and a Japanese University based in Tokyo.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2004)