TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Sun Yat-sen University released a study on Monday indicating air pollutants generated by night market operations not only penetrate the indoor environments of nearby homes but also have adverse effects on children's lung function.
It said in a press release that this was the first time scientific methods have been used to systematically explore the relationship between night market activities and children's health. The results were published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, per CNA.
The study was led by Lin Yuan-chung (林淵淙), professor at the Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, and Chen Pei-shih (陳培詩), professor at the Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University. Researchers surveyed 58 households living near night markets in Kaohsiung through questionnaires and real-time air quality monitoring.
The team found that concentrations of PM1 and PM2.5 in nearby homes were significantly higher on days when the night market was open. This indicates that night market activities, such as cooking food, directly impact air quality.
Further analysis found that the distance from the night market made a difference, as concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and PM10 in the indoor air of families who lived within 595 meters of the night market were generally higher than those who lived 595 meters away.
More importantly, lung function values such as vital capacity and expiratory volume in children living near the night markets were significantly lower than those of children living far away. This indicates that air pollutants released by night markets have entered indoor environments, negatively impacting the development of children's respiratory systems.
The research team warned that long-term exposure to high concentrations of particles and gaseous pollutants may increase children's risk of respiratory diseases and affect the healthy development of their lungs.
Researchers recommend that parents and residents take measures to reduce risks, including keeping windows closed during night market hours and using air purifiers with filtration functions. Furthermore, children should be prevented from staying outdoors for long periods during night market hours.
Furthermore, the research team suggested that future urban planning should account for the impact on air quality caused by night markets. Night market emissions must be controlled, or vendors should be placed further from residential areas.
