The health, construction and environment ministries are poised to unveil a package of measures to ensure high standards of indoor air quality.

Impending legislation has been prompted by numerous complaints about air quality during periods of indoor refurbishment. Many residents claimed their health has been affected to various degrees by chemical emissions from construction and decoration materials.

The regulations will require specific standards be met during house refurbishment. Standards will also apply during housing construction.

The officials from the ministries revealed initial details of the plan yesterday at a two-day international workshop on indoor air quality, sponsored by the State Environmental Protection Administration.

"Most people spend two-thirds of every day in various indoor environments and it is essential for us to pay as much attention as possible to indoor air quality," Su Zhi, deputy-director of Health Legislation and Supervision under the Ministry of Health told the workshop.

An official survey found that every day the average human being will consume two kilograms of liquid, one kilogram of dry food and 24 kilograms of air.

However, the probe also found that the air quality indoor is generally worse than outdoor air, according to Su.

"The situation is pressing, especially in some newly-built residential places in recent years, because some emissions including nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and benzene are generated during construction and refurbishment," said Su.

Apart from house refurbishment, there are also other ways to affect indoor air quality, according to an official from the Ministry of Construction.

"Pollutants created by various fuels when burning are another source of indoor air contamination both in China's rural and urban areas," said Yang Luyu, director of the Department of Standards and Ration under the ministry.

The State has stepped up effort to make all of its cities use clean energy, such as natural gas and solar power by the end of 2010. It is hoped the indoor air quality will thus gradually be improved, Yang said.

Yang highlighted other concerns: "In recent years, the frequent sandstorms have brought harm to both indoor and outdoor air quality across northern parts of China."

Yang said the indoor air quality is also related to residents' indoor activities.

(China Daily 08/30/2001)