SES clean air crusaders: promoting indoor air quality in Sri Lanka
Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Head of SES, third from right, and Dr Deng Wenjing, Associate Professor from the department, second from right, host an IAQ workshop at one of the participating schools the Trinity College.
Air pollution has long been a pressing global issue. To address this concern, a research team led by Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Head of the Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES), and Dr Deng Wenjing, Associate Professor from the department, has conducted extensive studies on indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools in Hong Kong and other cities. To raise awareness about air pollution and promote better IAQ practices, the team recently travelled to Sri Lanka to carry out educational and promotional activities related to IAQ, and disseminate their research findings overseas.
Professor Ho and Dr Deng’s team focuses on harmful substances in the air and their impact on children's health, specifically examining emerging air pollutants including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It is the first team in Hong Kong to have detected EDCs and bacteria in a school environment, with research locations extending to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Guangxi, and Belgium. The results indicate that children may be exposed to these harmful substances through non-dietary routes, highlighting the critical importance of indoor air quality in schools.
Professor Ho, the co-investigator of the research project, said, “Many regions around the world currently lack guidelines for indoor air quality in schools. Air quality issues affect students' development. We hope local governments will pay attention to air quality and understand the health impacts of children's exposure to EDCs and bacteria in the air. Together, we can contribute to improving global air pollution and safeguarding our next generation.”
Many people in developing countries lack knowledge about the severity of indoor air pollution and its health impacts. Professor Ho and Dr Deng’s educational work in Sri Lanka helps students understand the serious consequences of poor indoor air quality on health.
To deepen the understanding of students and teachers regarding the impact of air pollutants on health, Dr Deng and Professor Ho embarked on a series of promotional activities in Sri Lanka from June to September 2024. The IAQ workshops and STEM activities they facilitated received strong support from local principals and teachers in the Kandy, Ratnapura, and Kegalle districts, attracting over 1,000 students from 25 schools, including Swarnamali College, Sylvester College, Hemamali College, St. Aloysius College, Mary’s College, and Trinity College. The Environmental Brigade and the Science Club of St. Kegalle and Trinity College also joined the IAQ education programme. These activities have raised participants’ awareness about IAQ and the importance of global environmental sustainability.
Dr Deng, the principal investigator of the project, said, “Sri Lanka is the first pilot site for our overseas promotion plan. We are pleased to have received support from the Ministry of Environment and the Central Environmental Authority of the island country. In the future, we intend to expand our work to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal to raise awareness internationally and create healthy learning environments for students and youth.”
The promotional and educational programme in Sri Lanka was designed with reference to multiple workshops and STEM activities that Dr Deng and Professor Ho conducted in Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools in early 2024 to increase public awareness of IAQ.
