Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms?
The indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality (IAQ), is significantly associated with building-related symptoms (BRSs) in humans. In our previous studies, we demonstrated a significant relationship between BRSs and indoor chemical concentrations. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor, an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279757 |
| _version_ | 1797866875969863680 |
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| author | Kayo Tsumura Hiroko Nakaoka Norimichi Suzuki Kohki Takaguchi Yoshitake Nakayama Keiichi Shimatani Chisato Mori |
| author_facet | Kayo Tsumura Hiroko Nakaoka Norimichi Suzuki Kohki Takaguchi Yoshitake Nakayama Keiichi Shimatani Chisato Mori |
| author_sort | Kayo Tsumura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality (IAQ), is significantly associated with building-related symptoms (BRSs) in humans. In our previous studies, we demonstrated a significant relationship between BRSs and indoor chemical concentrations. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) guideline recommends an air quality target of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a provisional target of 400 μg/m3 for total VOCs (TVOC). The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between TVOC levels and the risk of BRSs using the Japanese provisional target TVOC level of 400 μg/m3. The relationship between odor intensity and BRSs while the TVOC levels were under 400 μg/m3 was also examined. The study was conducted in a laboratory house (LH) on the campus of Chiba University from 2017-2019. The study included 149 participants who spent 60 minutes in the LH. The participants were asked to evaluate the IAQ of the LH. A significant relationship between the risk of BRSs and the provisional target TVOC level was observed (odds ratio: 2.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-7.35). Furthermore, a significant relationship between odor intensity and risk of BRSs in spaces with TVOC levels less than 400 μg/m3 was detected (odds ratio: 6.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-30.44). In conclusion, the risk of BRSs is significantly lower in spaces with low TVOC levels and low odor intensity. Reducing the concentration of airborne chemicals and odor intensity may improve IAQ and prevent BRSs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:31:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e57b2d97a87f4e82866cfd1b253376ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:31:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e57b2d97a87f4e82866cfd1b253376ce2023-03-21T05:31:36ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01181e027975710.1371/journal.pone.0279757Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms?Kayo TsumuraHiroko NakaokaNorimichi SuzukiKohki TakaguchiYoshitake NakayamaKeiichi ShimataniChisato MoriThe indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality (IAQ), is significantly associated with building-related symptoms (BRSs) in humans. In our previous studies, we demonstrated a significant relationship between BRSs and indoor chemical concentrations. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) guideline recommends an air quality target of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a provisional target of 400 μg/m3 for total VOCs (TVOC). The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between TVOC levels and the risk of BRSs using the Japanese provisional target TVOC level of 400 μg/m3. The relationship between odor intensity and BRSs while the TVOC levels were under 400 μg/m3 was also examined. The study was conducted in a laboratory house (LH) on the campus of Chiba University from 2017-2019. The study included 149 participants who spent 60 minutes in the LH. The participants were asked to evaluate the IAQ of the LH. A significant relationship between the risk of BRSs and the provisional target TVOC level was observed (odds ratio: 2.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-7.35). Furthermore, a significant relationship between odor intensity and risk of BRSs in spaces with TVOC levels less than 400 μg/m3 was detected (odds ratio: 6.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-30.44). In conclusion, the risk of BRSs is significantly lower in spaces with low TVOC levels and low odor intensity. Reducing the concentration of airborne chemicals and odor intensity may improve IAQ and prevent BRSs.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279757 |
| spellingShingle | Kayo Tsumura Hiroko Nakaoka Norimichi Suzuki Kohki Takaguchi Yoshitake Nakayama Keiichi Shimatani Chisato Mori Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? PLoS ONE |
| title | Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? |
| title_full | Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? |
| title_fullStr | Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? |
| title_short | Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms? |
| title_sort | is indoor environment a risk factor of building related symptoms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279757 |
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