CASE STUDY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO DAMPNESS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN COLD CLIMATIC RGIONS OF JAPAN

摘要

In 2002, the indoor environment and occupant health of approximately 800 residential buildings were investigated by a questionnaire. As a result, the actual conditions of the indoor thermal environment and the indoor air quality have been clarified, and several problems related to dampness in buildings, have been grasped. To recognize these problems reported by occupants form the viewpoint of the relationship between occupant health problems and indoor air pollution related to dampness, factors such as airborne fungi and dust mites were measured. The buildings investigated were selected from among respondents to a previous questionnaire survey, which revealed problems related to vapor condensation. The results indicated that in houses suffering from certain occupant health problems, the concentration of airborne fungi and the number of mites present tended to be large. However, no clear correlation between health problems and indoor air pollution related to dampness was found, and further investigation is required.