Relation of dampness to sick building syndrome in Japanese public apartment houses

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>The effect of dampness on sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms has not been fully investigated in Japan. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the possible effects of dampness on SBS symptoms among residents in Japanese public apartment houses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire was used to investigate the degree of dampness in public apartment houses in Asahikawa, Japan, and its effect on SBS symptoms, involving 480 residents in 64 buildings. Dampness indicators were as follows: condensation on the windowpanes, condensation on the walls and/or closets, visible mold in the bathrooms, visible mold on the walls, window frames, and/or closet, moldy odor, slow drying of the wet towels in bathrooms, water leakage, and bad drainage in bathrooms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All dampness indicators except for visible mold in bathrooms had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for all or any SBS symptoms after adjustment. The dampness index, the number of positive dampness indicators, was significantly related to all SBS symptoms after adjustment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are serious problems relating to dampness in Japanese public housing, which affects the health of residents. There is a need to educate the residents about the relationship between dampness and SBS, and building problems should be rectified.</p>

Comparative Study of Simple Semiquantitative Dust Mite Allergen Tests

Objective: Two simple, commercially available and semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests, namely, the Acarex test® and Mitey Checker®, were compared using 2 and 10 μg of Der 1 allergen per gram of dust, as evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to clarify which method is better suited for practical use. Methods: Mite allergen exposure levels of 106 floor, bed and sofa surfaces were evaluated by the Acarex test®, Mitey Checker®, and ELISA. A template of 100 cm×100 cm was placed on the same surfaces to identify the examined areas. A dust collection filter was attached to a vacuum cleaner, and the area in the template (1 m2) was vacuumed. Then, to evaluate the other two tests, samples from the two other areas in the template (1 m2) that neighbored each other and did not overlap were vacuumed. Results: To predict Der 1 levels of 2 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test® were 100% and 13.3%, and those of Mitey Checker® were 91.8% and 71.1%, respectively. To predict Der 1 levels of 10 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test® were 50.0% and 96.2%, and those of Mitey Checker® were 85.7% and 79.5%, respectively. Compared with Der 1<2.0, 2.0-9.9, ≥10.0 (μg/g dust), the percent agreement and kappa of the Acarex test® were 47.2% and 0.234, and those of Mitey Checker® were 70.0% and 0.505, respectively. Conclusion: To evaluate mite allergen exposure level for practical use in Japanese living environments, Mitey Checker® is better than the Acarex test® because of its higher sensitivity and specificity.

Comparative study of simple semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Two simple, commercially available and semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests, namely, the Acarex test(®) and Mitey Checker(®), were compared using 2 and 10 μg of Der 1 allergen per gram of dust, as evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to clarify which method is better suited for practical use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mite allergen exposure levels of 106 floor, bed and sofa surfaces were evaluated by the Acarex test(®), Mitey Checker(®), and ELISA. A template of 100 cm×100cm was placed on the same surfaces to identify the examined areas. A dust collection filter was attached to a vacuum cleaner, and the area in the template (1 m(2)) was vacuumed. Then, to evaluate the other two tests, samples from the two other areas in the template (1 m(2)) that neighbored each other and did not overlap were vacuumed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>To predict Der 1 levels of 2 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test(®) were 100% and 13.3%, and those, of Mitey Checker(®) were 91.8% and 71.1%, respectively. To predict Der 1 levels of 10 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test(®) were 50.0% and 96.2%, and those of Mitey Checker(®) were 85.7% and 79.5%, respectively. Compared with Der 1<2.0, 2.0-9.9.≥10.0 (μg/g dust), the percent agreement and kappa of the Acarex test(®) were 47.2% and 0.234, and those of Mitey Checker(®) were 70.0% and 0.505, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To evaluate mite allergen exposure level for practical use in Japanese living environments, Mitey Checker(®) is better than the Acarex test(®) because of its higher sensitivity and specificity.</p>