| Title: | [New Scientific Evidence-based Public Health Guidelines and Practical Manual for Prevention of Sick House Syndrome] |
| Author(s): | Kishi R; Yoshino H; Araki A; Saijo Y; Azuma K; Kawai T; Yamato H; Osawa H; Shibata E; Tanaka M; Masuchi A; Minatoya M; Ait Bamai Y; |
| Address: | "Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences. WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards. Tohoku University. Asahikawa Medical University. Kindai University. Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan. National Institute of Public Health. Aichi Medical University. Fukushima Medical University. Hokkai-Gakuen University" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1882-6482 (Electronic) 0021-5082 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Recently, we have published a book containing evidence-based public health guidelines and a practical manual for the prevention of sick house syndrome. The manual is available through the homepage of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000155147.pdf). It is an almost completely revised version of the 2009 version. The coauthors are 13 specialists in environmental epidemiology, exposure sciences, architecture, and risk communication. Since the 1970s, health problems caused by indoor chemicals, biological pollution, poor temperature control, humidity, and others in office buildings have been recognized as sick building syndrome (SBS) in Western countries, but in Japan it was not until the 1990s that people living in new or renovated homes started to describe a variety of nonspecific subjective symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, and general fatigue. These symptoms resembled SBS and were designated 'sick house syndrome (SHS).' To determine the strategy for prevention of SHS, we conducted a nationwide epidemiological study in six cities from 2003-2013 by randomly sampling 5,709 newly built houses. As a result 1,479 residents in 425 households agreed to environmental monitoring for indoor aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). After adjustment for possible risk factors, some VOCs and formaldehyde were dose-dependently shown to be significant risk factors. We also studied the dampness of the houses, fungi, allergies, and others. This book is fully based on the scientific evidence collected through these studies and other newly obtained information, especially from the aspect of architectural engineering. In addition to SHS, we included chapters on recent information about 'multi-chemical sensitivity.'" |
| Keywords: | "Air Pollution, Indoor/adverse effects Aldehydes/adverse effects *Evidence-Based Medicine *Guidelines as Topic Humans Humidity Internet Japan *Manuals as Topic *Public Health Risk Factors Sick Building Syndrome/epidemiology/etiology/*prevention & control T;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineKishi, Reiko Yoshino, Hiroshi Araki, Atsuko Saijo, Yasuaki Azuma, Kenichi Kawai, Toshio Yamato, Hiroshi Osawa, Haruki Shibata, Eiji Tanaka, Masatoshi Masuchi, Ayumi Minatoya, Machiko Ait Bamai, Yu jpn Review Japan 2018/06/01 Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2018; 73(2):116-129. doi: 10.1265/jjh.73.116" |
