Sick Building Syndrome by Indoor Air Pollution in Dalian, China

Peng Guo, Kazuhito Yokoyama, Fengyuan Piao, Kiyoshi Sakai, Md Khalequzzaman, Michihiro Kamijima, Tamie Nakajima and Fumihiko Kitamura
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Peng Guo: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Kazuhito Yokoyama: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Fengyuan Piao: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, LiaoNing 116044, China
Kiyoshi Sakai: Nagoya City Public Health Research Institute, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8615, Japan
Md Khalequzzaman: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
Michihiro Kamijima: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
Tamie Nakajima: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
Fumihiko Kitamura: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan

IJERPH, 2013, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: This study assessed subjective symptoms related to indoor concentrations of chemicals among residents in a housing estate in Dalian, China, where indoor air pollution by interior decoration materials has recently become a major health problem. Fifty-nine males and 50 females were surveyed for their symptoms related to sick building syndrome. Formaldehyde (HCHO), NO 2 , and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their dwellings were collected using a diffusion sampler and measured by GC/MS. For residents with one or more symptoms in the past, HCHO, butanol or 1,2-dichloroethane concentrations were significantly greater in their bedrooms or kitchens compared with those of subjects without previous symptoms. For residents with one or more symptoms at the time of the study, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, xylene, butanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and styrene concentrations in their bedrooms or kitchens were significantly greater compared with those of residents without symptoms. HCHO, NO 2 , and VOCs were detected in all rooms, but their levels were lower than the guideline values except for HCHO in two rooms. Chemical substances from interior decoration materials at indoor air levels lower than their guideline values might have affected the health status of residents.

Keywords: sick building syndrome; indoor air pollution; China; formaldehyde; volatile organic compound (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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