PURPOSE: There is an increasing concern about sick building syndrome (SBS), especially in Asia. The aim of this study is to investigate associations between SBS and the home, school environment and personal factors among Japanese junior high school students. METHODS: We investigated students in four junior high schools in Hyogo in Kansai area, Japan. A questionnaire study was performed among students (n=1056), 12-15 years old. Temperature and relative air humidity was measured in the classrooms and dust was collected from the classroom floors and air and was analysed for cat and dog allergens. Associations were analysed by multi-level logistic regression. RESULTS: Mucosal symptoms (45.4%), general symptoms (38.9%) and skin symptoms (22.6%) were common. Totally 8.8% reported cat allergy, 6.1% dog allergy, 6.0% mold allergy and 25.7% pollen allergy. Atopy, window pane condensation, floor dampness and odor at home and high relative air humidity in the classrooms were associated with SBS. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SBS symptoms was high and associated with both home and school environment. Window pane condensation and floor dampness at home can increase the risk for SBS symptoms in students. Moreover high relative air humidity at school may increase the risk for SBS.

Objective: To study associations between the school and home environment and current asthma, respiratory symptoms and airway infections among Japanese students. Methods: Japanese students (12–15 y) (N = 1048) in four schools responded to a questionnaire on respiratory health, allergy and the home environment. Temperature, relative air humidity (RH) and student density (students/m² floor area) was measured in the classrooms: dust was collected from floors and in classroom air and analysed for cat (Fel d 1) and dog (Can f 1) allergens. Health associations were analysed by multi-level logistic regression. Results: Doctor's diagnosed asthma was common (13.4%), 8.8% reported cat allergy and 6.1% dog allergy. The median level in floor dust was 41 ng/g (IQR 23–92) for Fel d 1 and 101 ng/g (IQR 54–101) for Can f 1. The median level in air was 18.6 ng/ m²/ day (IQR5.9–25.1) for Fel d 1 and 18.6 ng/ m²/ day (IQR 6.0–13.3) for Can f 1. High RH, high student density and airborne cat allergen was associated with airway infections. In the home environment, recent indoor painting, new floor materials, odour, having cats as pets, window pane condensation in winter, and dampness in floor construction were associated with respiratory illness. Conclusion: High relative air humidity, high student density and airborne cat allergens at school may increase the risk of airway infections. Having cats as pets, chemical emissions from paint and new floor materials, odour and dampness can constitute domestic risk factors for respiratory symptoms while having dogs as pets could be protective.

Associations between home environment factors and respiratory symptoms, and reported allergies among junior high school students in Kobe, Japan (N = 1048) were investigated in the present study. These were mutually adjusted for age, sex, type of school (private/local) and their significant exposures to the environment. Totally 13.4% of students reported to have doctor's diagnosed asthma, 9.9% had wheeze and 50.1% had attacks of daytime breathlessness during past 12 months, 25.7% of students reported that they had pollen allergy, 8.8% had cat allergy and 6.1% had dog allergy. Totally 29.4% of students were living in a wooden house and during past 12 months, 18% of students reported that their homes had signs of dampness, 38.2% of homes had window condensation in winter and 7.8% of homes had indoor painting. Window condensation was associated with wheeze (odds ratio (OR) = 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–2.34), daytime breathlessness (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.56–2.63), airway infection during past 12 months (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.17–2.37), cat allergy (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.05–2.54); mould allergy (OR = 1.84; 95%CI 1.08–3.12) and pollen allergy (OR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.15–2.06). Recent indoor painting was associated with daytime breathlessness (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.12–3.00), dog allergy (OR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.02–4.85) and mould allergy (OR = 2.43; 95% CI 1.14–5.17). Living in a wooden house was associated with dog allergy (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.18–4.00) and mould allergy (OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.04–3.76). In conclusion, in Japanese homes, the window condensation in winter, recent indoor painting and living in a wooden house could contribute to the increased risk of respiratory symptoms and allergies for young Japanese school children.

The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of a supplement enriched with l-leucine, l-arginine, and l-glutamine on body compositions/skin conditions. Healthy young women (n = 29) were allocated to a group (n = 14) receiving an amino-acid supplement (600 mg l-leucine, 250 mg l-arginine, and 300 mg l-glutamine) and a placebo group (n = 15) receiving a supplement not-containing the amino acids. The amino-acid supplement and placebo were given twice/day for 6 weeks. After a wash-out (2 months) from the 1st test, the amino-acid group received the placebo and the placebo group the amino-acid supplement. The body compositions/skin conditions were measured 4 times (day 1 and weeks 2, 4, and 6) in each test. Percentage-change of muscle mass in the amino-acid group increased up to 4 weeks (p = 0.05) and was higher than that in the placebo group (p = 0.09). Skin texture estimated by the image processing of neck skin replica tended to increase in the amino-acid group at 6 weeks compared with that at 0 week, though there was no significant intergroup difference. In conclusion, the young adult women having no fitness habit showed the significant increase of the muscle amount and improvement tendency of the skin texture by the continuous intake of the amino-acid supplement.