A review of indoor air pollution and health problems from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene: Focusing on the studies of indoor air environment in japan compared to those of foreign countries

Koichi Harada, Asako Hasegawa, Chan Nian Wei, Keiko Minamoto, Yukari Noguchi, Kunio Hara, Osamu Matsushita, Kosuke Noda, Atsushi Ueda

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Excessive indoor air pollution can cause sick building syndrome (SBS), cases of which still occur in Japanese homes despite strict regulations on the value of indoor chemical substances established by the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), so-called multi-chemical sensitivity (MCS) has become another issue because it is caused by an extreme low concentration of chemical substances. These problems are discussed from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene in the present study. First, indoor air quality and its adverse effect on health is reviewed according to the history of sick buildings. Next, the factors concerning indoor air quality are indicated, and then measures to combat these problems are considered to improve the indoor environment. No ideal solution has been found: however, we summarize important knowledge on research to regain patient health as a result SBS and MCS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)488-501
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Health Science
Volume56
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Toxicology
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A review of indoor air pollution and health problems from the viewpoint of environmental hygiene: Focusing on the studies of indoor air environment in japan compared to those of foreign countries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this