Indoor environmental pollutants and their association with sick house syndrome among adults and children in elementary school

Kishi, Reiko; Ketema, Rahel Mesfin; Bamai, Yu Ait; Araki, Atsuko; Kawai, Takeshi; Tsuboi, Taijū; Saito, Ikue; Yoshioka, Eiji; Saito, Takeshi

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.03.056

Cited by 41 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…More than 50% of the respondent’s homes in this study were positive for one or more dampness indicators. Notably, we found a significant association between dampness index (0–4) values and SBS symptoms, which also supports previous studies [ 1 , 10 , 17 , 26 , 27 ]. Specifically, our stepwise analysis in Table 5 confirmed a persistent and significant association between dampness index (0–4) and all SBS symptoms, thus indicating that dampness is the most common independent indoor variable for SBS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…This indicates that SBS may be experienced in children independent of allergic symptoms. This could be attributed to factors other than allergic diseases, such as indoor environmental pollutants (e.g., dampness, chemicals, and/or microbial factors), which may increase SBS in non-allergic children [ 1 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 27 ]. Further, our stepwise analysis revealed that the presence of any allergies (an independent variable) was associated with mucosal and skin symptoms (Table 5 ), which also supported previous studies [ 13 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous SBS studies that include children have revealed many potential variables, such as sex, age, asthma/allergies, dampness, poor ventilation, and biological/chemical agents [ 8 – 10 ]. Research has also indicated that dampness in the home and/or school can increase SBS for school children [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lifestyle behaviors and home and school environment in association with sick building syndrome among elementary school children: a cross-sectional study

Ketema

Araki

Bamai

et al. 2020

Environ Health Prev Med

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Background Sick building syndrome (SBS) refers to the combination of symptoms experienced by occupants of specific building characteristics. This study investigated the associations of children’s lifestyle behaviors, allergies, home, and school environment with SBS symptoms. Methods A total of 4408 elementary school children living in Sapporo City, Japan participated in this study. SBS was determined on parental answers to MM080 standardized school questionnaires on symptoms that were weekly experienced by these children, and if the symptom is attributed to their home or school environment. The Japanese version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to assess wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associations between SBS symptoms and variables by controlling the potential confounders (gender, grade, school, and parental history of allergies). A stepwise backward elimination was conducted to assess independent variables related to SBS. Results Participants revealed mucosal (6.9%), skin (2.0%), and general (0.8%) symptoms. The presence of one or more allergy was associated with increased mucosal and skin symptoms. Children who skipped breakfast, displayed faddiness (like/dislike of food), had constipation, have insufficient sleep, did not feel refreshed after sleep, and lacked deep sleep showed significantly high odds ratios with SBS symptoms. The stepwise analysis showed faddiness for mucosal symptoms and not feeling refreshed after sleep for mucosal and skin symptoms, whereas constipation and lacking deep sleep for general symptoms were independent variables in increasing the symptoms. We found no significant relationship between SBS in children and schools. Considering children’s home, old building, no ventilation, wall-to-wall carpet, and heavy nearby traffic were associated with elevated mucosal symptom, while living in a multifamily home increased general symptoms. Home dampness was an independent variable in increasing all SBS symptoms. Conclusions Allergies and lifestyle behaviors were associated with increased SBS in children, including skipping breakfast, displaying faddiness, constipation, insufficient sleep, not feeling refreshed after sleep, and the lack of deep sleep. Further, dampness at home was associated with increase in all SBS symptoms. Lifestyle (e.g., eating and sleeping habits) and home (i.e., dampness) improvements might alleviate SBS symptoms in children.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lifestyle behaviors and home and school environment in association with sick building syndrome among elementary school children: a cross-sectional study

Ketema

Araki

Bamai

et al. 2020

Environ Health Prev Med

Self Cite

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“…This study has shown that, even just after completion, VOC concentrations can be sufficiently low if we use carefully selected low-emission materials. There are some reports on the health risks in indoor environments, which are often related to the poor IAQ caused by a variety of factors, including chemicals and microbiological contaminants [24,25,26]. This implies that residential houses with good IAQ and those which do not have adverse health effects on humans can be constructed by selecting building materials on the basis of their emission rates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Air Quality Analysis of Newly Built Houses

Suzuki

Nakaoka

Hanazato

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Recently, people have become increasingly aware of potential health issues related to indoor environments. In this study, we measure the concentrations of various volatile organic compounds, carbonyl compounds, and semi-volatile organic compounds, as well as the ventilation rates, in 49 new houses with light-gauge steel structures one week after completion. The proper indoor air quality of new residential environments can be ensured by characterizing people’s exposure to certain chemicals and assessing future risks. Our results show that the concentrations of the measured compounds were lower than the guideline values set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, and would continue to decrease. However, we observed that unregulated compounds, assumed to be substitutes for regulated solvents, contributed substantially to the total volatile organic compounds. To reduce indoor chemical exposure risks, the concentrations of these unregulated compounds should also be minimized. In addition, their sources need to be identified, and manufacture and use must be monitored. We believe it is important to select low-emission building materials for reducing residents’ exposure to indoor chemicals.

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“…The sample frame consists of 76 valid questionnaires comprising 30 bank staffers and 46 worshipers. Recent studies [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] have documented the negative effects of sick building syndrome on human health across climes. The survey instrument was administered by hand and consists of four parts.…”

Section: Experimental Design Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey datasets on sick building syndrome: Causes and effects on selected public buildings in Lagos, Nigeria

et al. 2018

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This dataset focuses on the causes and effects of sick building syndrome among users of selected facilities in Lagos. A mixed research approach of field measurement and cross-sectional survey was adopted. Descriptive statistics were implemented on the data acquired and are reported on tables and figures. The significance of this data leverages on providing insight and consciousness of sick building syndrome to users and occupants of constructed facilities. The survey dataset when analyzed can show direction on physical quantities levels that can be experienced in public buildings in tropical region.

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Indoor environmental pollutants and their association with sick house syndrome among adults and children in elementary school

Cited by 41 publications

References 42 publications

Lifestyle behaviors and home and school environment in association with sick building syndrome among elementary school children: a cross-sectional study

Lifestyle behaviors and home and school environment in association with sick building syndrome among elementary school children: a cross-sectional study

Indoor Air Quality Analysis of Newly Built Houses

Survey datasets on sick building syndrome: Causes and effects on selected public buildings in Lagos, Nigeria

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