Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air quality and health effects in Japanese modern office buildings
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air quality and health effects in Japanese modern office buildings
Indoor air quality and health effects in Japanese modern office buildings
Subject
Indoor air quality, health effects, Japanese modern office buildings
Description
Introduction: Building-related symptoms (BRSs) have emerged as an occupational and environmental health issue since the early 1970s. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is significant factors associated with BRSs.
Materials and Methods: Three phase studies were conducted: (1)
Nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey (315 offices with
3335 office workers during winter and 307 offices with 3024 office
workers during summer) to investigate association between indoor
environmental factors and BRSs; (2) the nested cross-sectional
surveillance (11 offices with 107 office workers during winter and 13 offices with 207 office workers) to examine the association with the measured data of IAQ (thermal, particles, and chemicals); (3) One-year longitudinal study (24 offices with 648 workers) in Osaka and Tokyo to examine the effects of IAQ on BRSs.
Results: Phase 1 study revealed that BRSs were significantly associated with thermal comfort, dryness, odors, dust, noise, and psychological stress. In phase 2 study, upper respiratory symptoms showed a significant correlation with increased indoor concentration of suspended particles. Several irritating volatile organic compounds (positively correlated among their compounds, i.e., combined exposure) were associated with upper respiratory symptoms. Phase 3 study revealed that upper respiratory symptoms were significantly correlated with decrease in both relative and absolute humidity.
Conclusions: These results suggest the importance of improving
office environments in terms of factors affecting the health of workers, including, in particular, dryness, particles, and irritating chemicals.
Materials and Methods: Three phase studies were conducted: (1)
Nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey (315 offices with
3335 office workers during winter and 307 offices with 3024 office
workers during summer) to investigate association between indoor
environmental factors and BRSs; (2) the nested cross-sectional
surveillance (11 offices with 107 office workers during winter and 13 offices with 207 office workers) to examine the association with the measured data of IAQ (thermal, particles, and chemicals); (3) One-year longitudinal study (24 offices with 648 workers) in Osaka and Tokyo to examine the effects of IAQ on BRSs.
Results: Phase 1 study revealed that BRSs were significantly associated with thermal comfort, dryness, odors, dust, noise, and psychological stress. In phase 2 study, upper respiratory symptoms showed a significant correlation with increased indoor concentration of suspended particles. Several irritating volatile organic compounds (positively correlated among their compounds, i.e., combined exposure) were associated with upper respiratory symptoms. Phase 3 study revealed that upper respiratory symptoms were significantly correlated with decrease in both relative and absolute humidity.
Conclusions: These results suggest the importance of improving
office environments in terms of factors affecting the health of workers, including, in particular, dryness, particles, and irritating chemicals.
Creator
Kenichi Azuma
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Files
Citation
Kenichi Azuma, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Indoor air quality and health effects in Japanese modern office buildings,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2487.
Indoor air quality and health effects in Japanese modern office buildings,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2487.