The National Agency for Risk Assessment in Tunisia has launched a guide to enhance indoor air quality in institutions that care for children. The guide aims to help identify pollution sources, assess risks, and adopt practical prevention measures. It is part of efforts to prevent potential health risks associated with indoor air pollution. Children spend a significant part of their day in enclosed spaces, which can be affected by various factors.
The guide targets schools, institutes, kindergartens, nurseries, and other spaces that host, care for, and educate children. It provides simplified tools to assess air quality and implement practical actions and sustainable practices. The guide includes key messages, preventive measures, and situations that require attention. It also offers tools for institution staff to conduct preliminary air quality assessments and identify pollution sources.
According to Mohamed Wessim Hani, Director of Environmental Monitoring for Products at the agency, various factors contribute to indoor air pollution. These include poor ventilation, humidity, mold, fungi, and products used in enclosed spaces, such as paints, adhesives, furniture, and cleaning materials. Other factors are dust, mites, heating and cooking appliances, and tobacco smoke.
Dr. Inas Hamzawi, head of the Respiratory and Chest Diseases department at Abd al-Rahman Mami Hospital in Ariana, noted that indoor air pollution particularly affects children, women, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues. It can cause asthma attacks, coughing, allergies, breathing difficulties, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Exposure to polluted air during pregnancy can also impact the fetus.
Dr. Hamzawi recommended regular ventilation of enclosed spaces, avoiding smoking indoors, and maintaining heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. She also suggested limiting the use of products that release substances and odors into the air and regularly cleaning floors and surfaces to prevent dust, mites, and fungi accumulation.
Walid Naaej, Director General of Health, emphasized that implementing the guide's recommendations is a shared responsibility among stakeholders. He noted that protecting children from air pollution risks requires collaboration across various sectors and structures. The guide is a first step towards developing and revising laws and regulations governing air quality in these institutions.
The guide's authors plan to translate it into Arabic and make electronic versions available to relevant structures involved in childcare. This will help expand its use and support efforts to prevent risks associated with indoor air quality. The guide was developed by a working group comprising various stakeholders, experts, and specialists from public institutions and central administrations.
Key points
- The guide provides practical tools and measures to assess and improve indoor air quality in childcare institutions.
- Indoor air pollution affects children, women, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues, causing various health problems.
- The guide's implementation is a shared responsibility among stakeholders, requiring collaboration across sectors and structures.
