Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
China Times 2009-07-01 [Tang Zhenyu, Zhu Fangyao / Taipei Report, Huang Tianru, Rong Huayi / Taipei Report]
Going to the hospital is meant for recovery, but the hospital food court might make you sick! The Consumers' Foundation tested the air quality in food courts at 11 domestic hospitals and found that Wanfang, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Neihu Tri-Service General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital's old campus, and Taipei Medical University Hospital exceeded the formaldehyde limit of 0.1 ppm, classifying them as "sick buildings" that can harm the respiratory system and potentially cause cancer with long-term exposure.
At the end of May, the Consumers' Foundation inspected food courts in 11 hospitals, including NTU Hospital, using the EPA's indoor air quality guidelines to measure formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and bacterial count. Seven failed the test, with the aforementioned five exceeding formaldehyde limits.
**Excessive Formaldehyde Levels Mostly Classified as Sick Buildings**
Zheng Maoxi, founding chairman of the Taiwan Indoor Air Quality Association, stated that the EPA's indoor air quality standards align with WHO guidelines. The WHO classifies formaldehyde levels above 0.1 ppm as a "sick building," posing direct risks to life and the respiratory system. Wu Jiacheng, secretary-general of the Consumers' Foundation, warned that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can trigger asthma, respiratory cancers, lymphoma, or blood disorders—a very serious issue.
Zheng explained that formaldehyde, being highly adhesive and inexpensive, is commonly used as a bonding agent in furniture, especially in plywood, making it a major source of airborne carcinogens. A simple "formaldehyde removal" treatment for such furniture could resolve the issue.
The foundation also found that the food court at Shuang Ho Hospital had bacterial counts exceeding 1,000 CFU per cubic meter, while Cathay General Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital's Neihu branch, and Taipei Medical University Hospital had particulate matter levels surpassing 150 micrograms per cubic meter—indicating severe pollution. The food court at NTU Hospital's old campus also recorded carbon dioxide levels exceeding 1,000 ppm, which can cause headaches and drowsiness.
**Affects Respiratory System, Long-Term Exposure May Lead to Cancer**
The Consumers' Foundation noted that hospital food courts are often located in basements. Poor ventilation and neglected air conditioning systems can worsen indoor air quality compared to outdoors, turning these areas into breeding grounds for pathogens. They advised against bringing immunocompromised patients to these dining areas.
Xie Yanru, director of the EPA's Air Quality Protection Division, mentioned that last year's tests also revealed slightly elevated carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels in some hospitals. Since the draft "Indoor Air Quality Management Act" is pending legislative review, the EPA currently relies on voluntary compliance with its air quality guidelines, with no penalties for violations.
Tan Qingding, spokesperson for NTU Hospital, stated that the hospital takes the Consumers' Foundation's findings seriously and will immediately arrange professional testing for formaldehyde levels. Regarding carbon dioxide, since levels fluctuate with crowd density, tests will be conducted during peak lunch hours to verify whether they exceed EPA recommendations.
Tan speculated that during summer, the management of the B1 food court in NTU's old west campus might have reduced ventilation cycles to maintain cooler indoor temperatures, inadvertently leading to the poor air quality results.
Source: http:/ / tech. chinatimes. com/ 2……1705+112009070100103,00. html
Top 5 Hospital Food Courts with Carcinogens in Air
Going to the hospital is meant for recovery, but the hospital food court might make you sick! The Consumers' Foundation tested the air quality in food courts at 11 domestic hospitals and found that Wanfang, Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Neihu Tri-Service General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital's old campus, and Taipei Medical University Hospital exceeded the formaldehyde limit of 0.1 ppm, classifying them as "sick buildings" that can harm the respiratory system and potentially cause cancer with long-term exposure.
At the end of May, the Consumers' Foundation inspected food courts in 11 hospitals, including NTU Hospital, using the EPA's indoor air quality guidelines to measure formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and bacterial count. Seven failed the test, with the aforementioned five exceeding formaldehyde limits.
**Excessive Formaldehyde Levels Mostly Classified as Sick Buildings**
Zheng Maoxi, founding chairman of the Taiwan Indoor Air Quality Association, stated that the EPA's indoor air quality standards align with WHO guidelines. The WHO classifies formaldehyde levels above 0.1 ppm as a "sick building," posing direct risks to life and the respiratory system. Wu Jiacheng, secretary-general of the Consumers' Foundation, warned that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can trigger asthma, respiratory cancers, lymphoma, or blood disorders—a very serious issue.
Zheng explained that formaldehyde, being highly adhesive and inexpensive, is commonly used as a bonding agent in furniture, especially in plywood, making it a major source of airborne carcinogens. A simple "formaldehyde removal" treatment for such furniture could resolve the issue.
The foundation also found that the food court at Shuang Ho Hospital had bacterial counts exceeding 1,000 CFU per cubic meter, while Cathay General Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital's Neihu branch, and Taipei Medical University Hospital had particulate matter levels surpassing 150 micrograms per cubic meter—indicating severe pollution. The food court at NTU Hospital's old campus also recorded carbon dioxide levels exceeding 1,000 ppm, which can cause headaches and drowsiness.
**Affects Respiratory System, Long-Term Exposure May Lead to Cancer**
The Consumers' Foundation noted that hospital food courts are often located in basements. Poor ventilation and neglected air conditioning systems can worsen indoor air quality compared to outdoors, turning these areas into breeding grounds for pathogens. They advised against bringing immunocompromised patients to these dining areas.
Xie Yanru, director of the EPA's Air Quality Protection Division, mentioned that last year's tests also revealed slightly elevated carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels in some hospitals. Since the draft "Indoor Air Quality Management Act" is pending legislative review, the EPA currently relies on voluntary compliance with its air quality guidelines, with no penalties for violations.
Tan Qingding, spokesperson for NTU Hospital, stated that the hospital takes the Consumers' Foundation's findings seriously and will immediately arrange professional testing for formaldehyde levels. Regarding carbon dioxide, since levels fluctuate with crowd density, tests will be conducted during peak lunch hours to verify whether they exceed EPA recommendations.
Tan speculated that during summer, the management of the B1 food court in NTU's old west campus might have reduced ventilation cycles to maintain cooler indoor temperatures, inadvertently leading to the poor air quality results.
Source: http:/ / tech. chinatimes. com/ 2……1705+112009070100103,00. html