Luyện theo cấu trúc Cambridge IELTS 8 · Writing Task 2: Indoor Air Quality

Concern about air pollution has traditionally focused on traffic fumes and factory smoke, but people in cities now spend most of their time inside buildings. I strongly agree that governments should set legal standards for indoor air in public buildings, although these rules need to be realistic and properly supported.

The main reason is that indoor air can be just as harmful as outdoor air, and in some cases worse. Poorly ventilated classrooms and offices allow carbon dioxide, dust and chemicals from furniture, paint and cleaning products to build up throughout the day. Children are particularly vulnerable, and research has linked stuffy classrooms not only to breathing problems but also to headaches and poorer concentration. If the state already regulates the safety of food and drinking water, it seems inconsistent to ignore the air that people breathe for eight hours a day.

Furthermore, individuals have very little control over the air in public buildings. A pupil cannot choose to install a ventilation system in their school, and an office worker may not even be able to open a window. Without clear legal requirements, building owners have little incentive to spend money on air filters or regular maintenance, since the benefits are not immediately visible.

Admittedly, critics point out that strict rules could be expensive, especially for older schools with limited budgets, and that some buildings would struggle to meet them quickly. However, this is an argument for phasing the standards in gradually and providing public funding for improvements, rather than for having no standards at all.

In conclusion, since people spend so much of their lives indoors, I believe governments have a clear responsibility to set and enforce standards for indoor air quality in public buildings, while helping owners to meet them.