Asthma a growing problem in nation's elementary schools

One in five first-grade students in Taipei suffer from asthma, local news reports said yesterday.

The number of elementary-school children in Taipei suffering from asthma grew from 1.3 percent in 1980 to 10 percent in 1991 and to 20 percent currently, according to a Chinese-language newspaper, quoting recent medical studies.

The latest research was conducted by the Taipei Municipal Jen Ai Hospital (仁愛醫院) and the Chang Gung Children's Hospital (長庚兒童醫院) in Linkou.

Taipei City councilors on Friday urged the government to adopt measures to combat the growing prevalence of asthma among students, such as promoting swimming, which may help strengthen the respiratory system, the report said.

Councilors also asked Taipei authorities to keep school swimming pools open to allow the students exercise, it said.

Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) recently announced that many of the city's swimming pools would not be opened until further notice as the nation is currently facing its worst drought in years.

Growing levels of prosperity in recent decades have been accompanied by rapid industrialization and rising levels of pollution.