塑化建材、2-乙基己醇及微生物共存環境與病態大樓症候群的關係

Abstract

The possible health effect caused by plastic building materials that are getting popular in indoor environment, have been noticed. This study aims at disclosing sick building syndrome associated with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, microorganisms and other factors such as ventilation, temperature, humidity, total volatile organic compounds and total suspended particulates in with usage of plastic building materials. A questionnaire survey was administrated for investigating prevalence of sick building syndrome; 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) were sampled and analyzed; other environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, total volatile organic compounds and total suspended particulates were measured by direct-reading instruments. The results indicated that, prevalence of sick building syndrome was 40.7% when using three or more symptoms affected by environment as a diagnosis base; prevalence of sick building syndrome was 66.5% when using the symptoms became better when leaving uncomfortable as a diagnosis base. People felt uncomfortable in installed with plastic carpet that was a significantly risk factor after adjusted for sick building syndrome. Major uncomfortable complaints were mucous membrane irritation involved in uncomfortable eyes, nose and throat. The mean concentration of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in room installed with carpet was 65.1 μg/m3 that was significantly higher than in room without plastic carpet (p<0.01). During two sampling periods, schooling time and winter vacation, concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol significantly correlated with concentrations of Penicillium (β=0.51, p<0.05); concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in small classrooms significantly high (211.3 μg/m3, p<0.01); concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol also significantly correlated with temperature (β=0.64, p=0.03) and total bacteria (β=0.71, p=0.02), respectively, when factors of “people” and “the condition of ventilating” are excluded. In conclusion, plastic carpet, ventilation, volume of room, temperature and microorganisms in indoor would affect concentration of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol that probably relate to prevalence of sick building syndrome. Thus, reducing use of plastic building materials for inner decoration and providing adequate ventilation can decrease concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in indoor environment.