Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute Offers Free Indoor Air Quality Testing for Social Welfare Facilities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 24th that it will conduct free indoor air quality inspections at social welfare facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

From next month until July, the institute will focus on inspecting social welfare facilities where vulnerable neighbors such as children with weak immunity, the elderly, and disabled people live, especially those facilities not covered by the Indoor Air Quality Control Act.

For 15 social welfare facilities in the Gwangju area, two items will be measured: radon, a first-class carcinogen, and total airborne bacteria floating indoors.

Applications are being accepted via phone consultations, and related inquiries and applications can be made to the Living Environment Division of the City Health and Environment Research Institute.

For facilities that undergo the inspection, guidance will be provided on maintaining indoor air quality, including replacing building materials, ventilation, sterilization, and disinfection during the free indoor air quality inspection.

In this regard, the City Health and Environment Research Institute conducted a survey of 15 social welfare facilities last year and found no locations exceeding the standards.

Song Hyungmyung, head of the Living Environment Division at the Health and Environment Research Institute, said, “As people spend more time indoors and in enclosed environments, children with weak immunity, the elderly, and disabled people can be greatly affected by indoor air pollution. We will actively support social welfare facilities outside the regulatory framework to improve the welfare of vulnerable groups.”