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2. The Study
The Study was to characterize and quantify the indoor air pollution in office premises and selected public places in Hong Kong, assess the causes of the pollution problems, and recommend the most suitable control strategy. It comprised (a) questionnaire survey, (b) field sampling and laboratory analysis, (c) statistical analysis of the results, (d) study on the practice of other countries. The Study also identified the measures to mitigate indoor air pollution and prepared a draft Code of Practice on the management of IAQ, made proposal on the IAQ objectives, produced a mathematical model to predict the levels and exposures of common indoor air pollutants. It also proposed the approach and action on control of IAQ in residential premises.
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Questionnaire Survey
The questionnaire survey was to gauge the indoor air quality (IAQ) situation of offices and public places in Hong Kong and the associated medical symptoms, and to facilitate subsequent correlation analysis with the characteristics of the occupants/ premises and other surveyed parameters. The questionnaire design was based on the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with slight modifications to suit local conditions. It consisted of two parts: a telephone survey on 2,000 respondents and an on-site survey on 1,183 occupants of 40 selected office premises. The occupants' perception of the IAQ in their workplace was gauged by expressions of satisfaction, and by calculating a Building Symptom Index (BSI) based on responses to questions about medical symptoms which would go away after leaving the workplace. Building occupants' perception is traditionally considered an important indication of sick building syndrome, given the health symptoms associated with it.
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Detailed Measurements
The sampling protocol for field measurement was based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's BASE (Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation) study and modified as necessary to cope with the local constraints. Detailed monitoring and laboratory analysis of 40 offices was conducted between March and October 1996. To assess the extent to which air quality problems are due to seasonal variations, a longitudinal study covering summer and winter months for five out of the 40 office premises was made. A pilot study of IAQ in public places, which looked at selected samples of twenty restaurants, eight shopping malls, five cinemas, two wet markets and selected concourses/platforms of the Mass Transit Railway, was also conducted.
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Statistical Analysis
Extensive statistical analysis was made to establish the degree of correlation between occupants' reported perceptions about IAQ and the tangible, measurable parameters. The consultants also looked into the correlation between perceptions and specific medical symptoms.
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Other Countries' Practice
The Study also surveyed the relevant legislation, regulations and current practices on the control of IAQ in eight developed countries, namely Japan, United Kingdom, USA, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Canada and Sweden. The study of the experiences in these countries provided the background information which is particularly useful in formulating the strategy to institutionalise IAQ for Hong Kong.
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