Psychosocial factors that aggravate the symptoms of sick house syndrome in Japan.

Over the last 30 years in Japan, there has been a 10% increase in the number of people suffering from sick house syndrome due to toxic chemicals released from construction materials and wallpaper. This syndrome can develop into the more complex and disabling, chemical sensitivity syndrome, so preventing early exposure to toxins at home is critical in reducing the likelihood of health problems in the community. A qualitative study was undertaken using ethnographic methods to identify the psychosocial aggravating factors of sick house syndrome. As a result, the participants identified three aggravating factors that extended the period of exposure of the participant to toxic chemicals: a lack of knowledge about the disorder; the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis; and the difficulty of taking radical measures to improve the home environment. Public awareness of sick house syndrome and the dangers of toxicity from construction materials is vital to eliminate these aggravating factors and to prevent illness.

Indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome: a case study and implications for the community health nurse.

Indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome are only recently gaining recognition as a public health concern. Unfortunately, however, most nurses feel ill equipped to address such environmental health issues. This article begins with a review of literature on indoor air pollutants and sick building syndrome, followed by a case study of occupant illness in a school since the onset of a school construction and renovation project. Included in the case study is an in-depth analysis of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and Product Data Sheets, conducted to examine the potential health effects resulting from product use in the indoor environment. The results of the analysis indicate that a significant number of products used in the project may have induced the reported occupant symptoms. The conclusion of the case study is that building occupants were exposed to multiple products that have numerous acute overexposure health effects and unknown long-term effects, and thereby placed occupants at an ill-defined health risk. The review of literature and case study findings demonstrate the imminent need for community health nurses to assume a proactive role in promoting environmental health. nursing implications are provided to guide the community health nurse's role in cases of sick building syndrome.