The National Risk Assessment Agency in Tunisia has introduced a guide aimed at improving indoor air quality in institutions that cater to children. The guide was launched on October 7, 2026, in the capital city. Its primary objective is to assist officials and workers in these institutions in identifying pollution sources, evaluating risks, and adopting practical prevention measures. The target institutions include schools, institutes, kindergartens, nurseries, and other spaces dedicated to receiving, organizing, and educating children.
The guide focuses on preventing potential health risks associated with indoor air pollution. According to Mohamed Wessim El Hani, Director of Environmental Control for Products at the agency, children spend a significant part of their day in enclosed spaces that can be affected by various factors and pollution sources. The guide outlines key messages, preventive actions, and situations that require attention. It also provides simplified tools for officials and workers to conduct a preliminary assessment of air quality, identify pollution sources, and take necessary actions.
Indoor air pollution in these institutions can stem from multiple sources. These include inadequate ventilation, humidity, mold, fungi, and products used within enclosed spaces such as paints, adhesives, furniture, floor coverings, and cleaning materials. Other sources are dust, mites, heating and cooking appliances that can emit carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke, and pollution from the external environment. These pollutants can cause respiratory issues, asthma attacks, coughing, allergies, breathing difficulties, and eye, nose, and throat irritation.
Dr. Inas Hamzawi, head of the Pulmonary and Chest Diseases department at Abdel Rahman Mami Hospital in Ariana, emphasized that indoor air pollution particularly affects children, women, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Exposure to polluted air during pregnancy can also impact the fetus, potentially leading to low birth weight and abnormal lung growth. Dr. Hamzawi recommended regular ventilation of enclosed spaces, prohibiting smoking indoors, maintaining heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems, and limiting the use of products that release substances and odors into the air.
The guide is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders and experts from public institutions and central departments under the ministries of Health, Education, Religious Affairs, Family, Women, Childhood, Elderly, and Social Affairs. According to Walid Neejja, Director General of Health, implementing the guide's recommendations is a shared responsibility among different stakeholders. He stressed that protecting children from risks associated with air pollution requires concerted efforts from all relevant sectors and structures.
The guide is currently available in French and is expected to be translated into Arabic. Electronic copies will be made available to various structures involved in childcare to broaden its use and support prevention efforts. The launch of the guide represents a first step towards developing and revising laws and regulations governing air quality in these institutions, enhancing health risk prevention, and providing a safe and healthy indoor environment for children.
The development of the guide underscores Tunisia's commitment to addressing indoor air pollution and its impacts on children's health. By providing clear guidelines and tools, the government aims to empower institutions to take proactive measures in maintaining good air quality. This initiative is part of a broader effort to safeguard children's health and well-being, recognizing the critical role that clean air plays in their development and overall quality of life.
Key points
- The guide provides practical measures for institutions to assess and mitigate indoor air pollution.
- Indoor air pollution affects children, women, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.
- The guide is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders and experts from multiple sectors.
