PRESENT STATUS OF THE IAQ IN JAPANESE NATIONAL HOSPITALS

摘要

Field VOC measurements using passive samplers were conducted in 20 national hospitals in Japan. Results showed that almost all data were lower than the guidelines levels for residential environments established by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japanese Government. However, in 19 rooms the indoor concentrations of formaldehyde and/or toluene exceeded the MHLW's guideline. 18 rooms out of 19 were so-called "pathology rooms". Xylene levels in 6 rooms exceeded the guideline, and indoor concentrations in 5 rooms - exceeded the guidelines for formaldehyde and xylene. The hourly fluctuation patterns of formaldehyde concentration in a pathology room were analyzed in order to investigate the emission and ventilation conditions.Concentration peaks, which showed even with the ventilation system in operation, were considered as a result of the working activities. A remedy plan to eliminate such concentration peaks is one of the objectives, which should be established soon.