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Relationship between sick building syndrome and indoor environmental factors in newly built Japanese dwellings

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Abstract

Objectives

Indoor air contaminants and dampness in dwellings have become important environmental health issues. The aim of this study is to clarify which factors are related to sick building syndrome (SBS) in newly built dwellings at Hokkaido, Japan, through a comprehensive evaluation of the indoor environment and validated sick building symptom questionnaires.

Methods

The symptoms of 343 residents in 104 detached houses were surveyed by standardized questionnaires, and the concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), airborne fungi, and dust mite allergen in their living rooms were measured. By summing the presence or absence of the five dampness indicators (condensations, mold growth, moldy odor, high air humidity of the bathroom, water leakage), a dampness index was calculated.

Results

SBS symptoms were found in 21.6% of surveyed individuals. In a fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, the dampness index [odds ratio (OR) = 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.11], log formaldehyde (OR = 23.79, 95% CI: 2.49–277.65), and log alpha-pinene (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.36–6.03) had significantly higher ORs for SBS symptoms. However, other VOCs, airborne fungi, and dust mite allergen did not have significantly higher ORs.

Conclusion

Dampness, formaldehyde, and alpha-pinene were significantly related to SBS symptoms in newly built dwellings. We should, therefore, take measures to reduce the chemicals and dampness in dwellings.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant, Japan (Research on Health Services: H15-Ganyobou-093). We would like to express grate gratitude to Ms. K. Yamashita for her cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Science, Graduated School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, N15, W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Makoto Takeda, Yasuaki Saijo, Motoyuki Yuasa, Ayako Kanazawa, Atsuko Araki & Reiko Kishi

  2. Department of Health Science, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka, E2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan

    Yasuaki Saijo

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  1. Makoto Takeda
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  2. Yasuaki Saijo
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  5. Atsuko Araki
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Correspondence to Reiko Kishi.

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Takeda, M., Saijo, Y., Yuasa, M. et al. Relationship between sick building syndrome and indoor environmental factors in newly built Japanese dwellings. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82, 583–593 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0395-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0395-8

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