Sick Building Syndrome Among Junior High School Students in Japan in Relation to the Home and School Environment.

Motoko Takaoka,Kyoko Suzuki,Dan Norbäck

doi:10.5539/gjhs.v8n2p165

Motoko Takaoka, Kyoko Suzuki + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n2p165

Copy DOI

Abstract

Purpose:There is an increasing concern about sick building syndrome (SBS), especially in Asia. The aim of this study is to investigate associations between SBS and the home, school environment and personal factors among Japanese junior high school students.Methods:We investigated students in four junior high schools in Hyogo in Kansai area, Japan. A questionnaire study was performed among students (n=1056), 12-15 years old. Temperature and relative air humidity was measured in the classrooms and dust was collected from the classroom floors and air and was analysed for cat and dog allergens. Associations were analysed by multi-level logistic regression.Results:Mucosal symptoms (45.4%), general symptoms (38.9%) and skin symptoms (22.6%) were common. Totally 8.8% reported cat allergy, 6.1% dog allergy, 6.0% mold allergy and 25.7% pollen allergy. Atopy, window pane condensation, floor dampness and odor at home and high relative air humidity in the classrooms were associated with SBS.Conclusion:The prevalence of SBS symptoms was high and associated with both home and school environment. Window pane condensation and floor dampness at home can increase the risk for SBS symptoms in students. Moreover high relative air humidity at school may increase the risk for SBS.

Highlights

Sick building syndrome (SBS) was initially defined empirically since in certain office buildings, a large proportion of subjects reported similar symptoms that they attributed to the indoor environment (WHO, 1982)
22.6 a: At least one weekly symptom classfied as mucosal symptoms; b: At least one weekly symptom classfied as general symptoms; c: At least one weekly symptom classfied as skin symptoms
A: At least one weekly symptom classfied as mucosal symptoms; b: At least one weekly symptom classfied as general symptoms; c: At least one weekly symptom classfied as skin symptoms; d: Including either of cat, dog, mold or pollen allergy; Age, sex, atopy and home environmental factors in the model

Summary

Introduction

Sick building syndrome (SBS) was initially defined empirically since in certain office buildings, a large proportion of subjects reported similar symptoms that they attributed to the indoor environment (WHO, 1982). Previous studies have shown that personal vulnerability and psychosocial factors are associated with SBS symptoms, including female gender and history of allergic disorders (Norback et al, 1990; Niven et al, 2000) as well as psychosocial work stress (Bakke et al, 2007; Runeson & Norback, 2012). Many cross-sectional epidemiological and some experimental studies have indicated that indoor exposure factors such as building dampness, bioaerosols, volatile organic compounds (e.g. formaldehyde, toluene), indoor mold, house dust mite allergens and certain building characteristics (e.g. low ventilation rate) may be associated with SBS symptoms (Apter et al, 1994; Sundell et al, 2011; Saijo et al, 2011).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion