Chinese and American scientists Thursday launched a cooperation research program on indoor pollution at the museum of the terra-cotta army, a historic relic that once guarded the tomb of China's first emperor, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The research on pollutants' impact on the terra-cotta warriors and horses of Emperor Qinshihuang, the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (211BC-207BC), involves experts from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta Museum, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Desert Research Institute of the United States.

Representatives signed a cooperation contract Thursday at the terra-cotta museum in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.

Based on continuous observation of the pollution and studies on the change and chemical reaction mechanism of corrosive gas, aerated solids and dust, researchers will work out an evaluation report on the mechanism of pollutants' corrosion on the rare cultural relics.

The program is expected to last two years, according to the contract.

Experts said the research will help better protect the terra-cotta figures.

Tong Mingkang, deputy director of the State Bureau of Cultural Relics, said that the herald research in China is expected to provide a basis for the country's control and prevention of museum indoor pollution.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2005)