Motoko Takaoka

The Home Environment of Japanese Female University Students - Association with Respiratory Health and Allergy

A study was undertaken to determine the association between the home environment along with the respiratory and allergy symptoms reported among female university students in Japan (N =153). A multiple logistic regression was applied for the determination and the study was controlled based on the age of the students, whether the student smokes and history of asthma/allergy suffering in parents. The characteristics of the population were: 15.7% are diagnosed asthma, 56.9% suffered pollen allergy, 15.7% cat allergy, 11.1% dog allergy, 25.0% wheeze in breathing, 24.2% suffered daytime breathlessness and 9.3% suffered nocturnal attacks of breathlessness. Evaluated characteristics were: 41.2% had a pet at home, 21.6% environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), 20.9% current dampness or moulds, 6.6% recent indoor painting, 7.2% new floor material, and 56.2% window condensation at home in winter. Wheeze was more common in concrete houses (OR = 3.33; p<0.05) and homes with water leakage and moulds infestation in the last 5 years (OR = 3.75; p<0.05), window condensation (OR=2.93; p<0.05) and ETS (OR=3.04; p<0.05). Nocturnal breathlessness was related to current building dampness (OR = 7.48; p<0.05), in particular to floor dampness. Furry pet allergy was more common in newer ( p<0.05) and newly painted homes (OR = 6.59; p<0.05). Airway infections were more common in homes with new floor material (OR=4.19; p<0.05). In conclusion, asthma, airway infections and allergies were common among female university students and related to home environmental exposures.

Sick Building Syndrome among Junior High School Students in Japan in Relation to the Home and School Environment

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.

The home environment of junior high school students in Hyogo, Japan – Associations with asthma, respiratory health and reported allergies

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 doctors 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.

Current asthma, respiratory symptoms and airway infections among students in relation to the school and home environment in Japan

ABSTRACT 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: Doctors 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.

Digestive Functional Symptoms among Ground Employees in an Airline Company in Relation to Diet, Insomnia and Lifestyle Factors

PURPOSE There are some epidemiological studies on pilots and cabin staff, but we found few health studies on aviation ground employees. The aim was to study associations between digestive symptoms in airline ground employees and diet, insomnia and lifestyle factors. METHODS A standardized questionnaire was mailed to all Stockholm ground employees in a Scandinavian airline company, 201 service agents (ticketing and gate service) and 564 office workers from the same company participated. Associations were analysed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Of the service agents, 13.8% reported poor appetite, 17.5%% heartburn, 14.1%, diarrhea, 51.7% bloating, 18.8% constipation and 15.40% epigastralgia. Service agents reported more bloating (OR=1.56; p<0.01), and poor appetite (OR=2.33; p<0.01) than office workers. The prevalence of insomnia was 77.7% among service agents and 63.1% among office workers (p<0.001). In service agents, insomnia was related to poor appetite (OR=2.49; p<0.01), heartburn (OR=2.14; p<0.01), diarrhea (OR=3.62; p<0.001) bloating (OR=1.62; p<0.01), constipation (OR=2.74; p<0.01) and epigastralgia (OR=3.44; p<0.001). In office workers, there were no associations between insomnia and digestive symptoms. In the total material of ground employees (N=765), higher body mass index (BMI) was related to diarrhea and females suffered from more constipation and epigastralgia. Older age was related to heartburn and bloating. Smoking was related to poor appetite, more heartburn and epigastralgia and less constipation. The number of years employed at the airline company was negatively associated with heartburn, diarrhea and bloating. Frequent fast food consumption was associated with more bloating and heartburn. Frequent vegetables consumption was associated with less heartburn. CONCLUSION Insomnia and digestive symptoms were more common among service agents than office workers in the same airline company, possible partly due to stress. Besides insomnia, BMI, smoking, female gender, age, and diet were associated with digestive symptoms.

The Influence of School Environment on the SBS Symptoms and the Development of Asthma and Allergy

Since there has been a rising prevalence of asthma and allergy worldwide, especially in the younger generation, there is a need to identify both risk factors and protective factors for asthma and allergy development. The reasons for the increase are still unknown, but it has been suggested that indoor environmental exposure and dietary factors may influence the development of asthma and allergy. Research has therefore paid special attention to the school environment, for exposure to allergens. There are some studies of the prevalence of self reported asthma and allergy to pollen and ferry pets among school children and to relate these health effects to age, gender, current dietary factors current urban residency, growing up in a rural environment, and selected environmental factors in the current dwelling. Previous studies have demonstrated contamination with cat and dog and house dust-mites allergens in the classrooms, which could cause symptoms of asthma and allergy. The view that dietary habits among pupils and the school environment should not be neglected and indoor allergens exposure needs to be further investigated.