Regarding SBS and lifestyle behaviors in children, research has shown that foregoing breakfast, eating too many snacks/sweets, irregular bowel movements, high durations of daily TV watching, and sleep problems are related to adverse eye, nasal, and general symptoms. The lifestyle behaviors adopted by children are an important factors in long-term health effects. Regarding indoor chemicals, epidemiological studies conducted in both Malaysia and Japan have shown that substances such as formaldehyde are associated with increasing building-related symptoms in children. Further, children with doctor-diagnosed atopy and rhinitis tend to have associations with the incidence of SBS than children without these diseases. Research has also indicated that dampness in the home and/or school can increase SBS for school children. Previous SBS studies that include children have revealed many potential variables, such as sex, age, asthma/allergies, dampness, poor ventilation, and biological/chemical agents. Indeed, the number of SBS reports has decreased considerably since that time. Relevant construction guidelines ensure proper ventilation and limited concentrations of indoor chemicals, such as formaldehyde. As such, the Japanese government established enforceable prevention measures through the Building Standard Act, which has applied to new buildings since 2003. In Japan, many residences built since the 1990s were designed to ensure airtight spaces however, previous research suggested that this poses SBS risks for occupants. The term sick building syndrome (SBS) refers to non-specific mucosal, skin, and general symptoms that are caused by exposure to a specific building environment. Lifestyle (e.g., eating and sleeping habits) and home (i.e., dampness) improvements might alleviate SBS symptoms in children. Further, dampness at home was associated with increase in all SBS symptoms. ConclusionsĪllergies and lifestyle behaviors were associated with increased SBS in children, including skipping breakfast, displaying faddiness, constipation, insufficient sleep, not feeling refreshed after sleep, and the lack of deep sleep. Home dampness was an independent variable in increasing all SBS symptoms. Considering children’s home, old building, no ventilation, wall-to-wall carpet, and heavy nearby traffic were associated with elevated mucosal symptom, while living in a multifamily home increased general symptoms. We found no significant relationship between SBS in children and schools. The stepwise analysis showed faddiness for mucosal symptoms and not feeling refreshed after sleep for mucosal and skin symptoms, whereas constipation and lacking deep sleep for general symptoms were independent variables in increasing the symptoms. Children who skipped breakfast, displayed faddiness (like/dislike of food), had constipation, have insufficient sleep, did not feel refreshed after sleep, and lacked deep sleep showed significantly high odds ratios with SBS symptoms. The presence of one or more allergy was associated with increased mucosal and skin symptoms. Participants revealed mucosal (6.9%), skin (2.0%), and general (0.8%) symptoms. A stepwise backward elimination was conducted to assess independent variables related to SBS. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associations between SBS symptoms and variables by controlling the potential confounders (gender, grade, school, and parental history of allergies). The Japanese version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to assess wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema. SBS was determined on parental answers to MM080 standardized school questionnaires on symptoms that were weekly experienced by these children, and if the symptom is attributed to their home or school environment. MethodsĪ total of 4408 elementary school children living in Sapporo City, Japan participated in this study. This study investigated the associations of children’s lifestyle behaviors, allergies, home, and school environment with SBS symptoms. Sick building syndrome (SBS) refers to the combination of symptoms experienced by occupants of specific building characteristics.
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