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Excessive formaldehyde levels found in hospital food courts
2009-07-02
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Almost half of hospital shops and food courts recently tested by the Consumers’ Foundation, Chinese Taipei were found to have airborne formaldehyde levels in excess of the suggested safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Administration.
The Consumers’ Foundation conducted air quality tests at 11 major hospitals in May of this year to measure concentrations of airborne particulate matter, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and bacteria.
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Five of the hospitals, including Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital in Neihu District, National Taiwan University Hospital, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-sen Cancer Center and Taipei Medical University Hospital, were found to have formaldehyde concentrations of more than 0.1 ppm (parts per million) per hour, according to a foundation official.
Exposure to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, may lead to asthma, allergies, liver and lung problems, damage to the immune system, and even chronic poisoning in severe cases.
The official said the main sources of the formaldehyde found in the air at the hospital shops and cafeterias included decorative items such as synthetic paneling, plastic flooring and paint.
Hsieh Yeih-rui, head of the EPA’s Bureau of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control, said the agency carried out air quality testing last year at various hospitals and business districts. The results showed carbon monoxide, CO2 and airborne fungal concentrations in excess of safety levels set by his bureau. He pointed out that these hospitals were asked at that time to improve the situation.
According to Hsieh, the Legislative Yuan is currently reviewing the Indoor Air Quality Management draft bill which is expected to be passed into law within three years. After passage, violators will be subject to fines of between NT$50,000 (US$1,524) and NT$250,000, he noted.
According to the EPA’s recommendations, indoor suspended particulate matter concentrations should not exceed 150 micrograms per cubic meter.
Consumers’ Foundation Secretary-General Gaston Wu said the foundation’s survey revealed that concentrations of airborne particulate matter at Cathay General Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital and Taipei Medical University Hospital exceeded the suggested maximum safety levels. He said that exposure to such high concentrations could lead to inflammation of mucous membranes in the nasal passage, asthma and allergies, and could harm the respiratory system.
The foundation’s survey also found that airborne bacteria concentrations at Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital’s basement food court reached 1,000 CFU per cubic meter, while the food court at NTU Hospital’s old building registered CO2 levels of 1,000 ppm.
Consumers’ Foundation Chairman Hsieh Tien-jen said that most hospital food courts are located in the basements of buildings and are often crowded with people. If the ventilation systems are not regularly maintained and cleaned, these sites can easily become hotbeds for airborne germs, he noted.
The foundation urged people not to spend long periods of time in hospitals unless necessary and to wash their hands after touching objects at these sites in order to decrease the chances of becoming infected. (SB)
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Source: Taiwan Today
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