Bad air in study rooms
The air quality in the study rooms at some public libraries is worse than that in public toilets, a recent study shows.
This may affect the health of students studying there for long periods, an advocate from taxpayer group Momentum 107 says.
The group found that the carbon-dioxide levels in study rooms in Po Lam, Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei far exceeded the limit of 1,000 parts per million (ppm) recommended by the government.
The CO2 level in the study room at the Tseung Kwan O public library in Po Lam hit 1,445ppm, while it was 1,145ppm in the Yau Ma Tei room. By comparison, the reading in a toilet in a shopping mall in Tseung Kwan O was 690ppm.
Sai Kung district councillor Raymond Ho Man-kit, the convenor of Momentum 107, said poor ventilation can cause headaches, fatigue and eye and throat irritations. He urged the authorities to improve the indoor air quality at libraries and strengthen air-quality guidelines.
