Development of control and management methods for odors in the elderly care environment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02316
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 23020:Architectural environment and building equipment-related
• Research Institution: Daido University
• Principal Investigator: Mitsuda Megumi 大同大学, 建築学部, 教授 (40308812)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 建築環境・設備 / 臭気 / 高齢者介護 / 室内空気質 / 空気環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to obtain insights that lead to proposals for methods to control and manage each source of odor in the elderly care environment, rather than just focusing on measures against individual sources of odor in the elderly care environment.
As age increased, the decline in odor intensity in response to odor in elderly care environment was observed, with valeric acid commonly identified as the causative substances regardless of age. Therefore, focusing on isovaleric acid, the indoor odor standard value was considered. Based on the analysis of odor components, valeric acid was detected conspicuously in situations where diapers are changed and wiped at the same time, and in situations where diapers are wiped. Furthermore, to obtain information necessary for the application of measures, understanding was gained regarding the dispersion of valeric acid and scent components within the space.

Free Research Field

建築環境工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超高齢社会の中で、高齢者介護を担う療養型医療施設、福祉施設の役割がますます大きくなっているが、高齢者介護環境の中で解決すべき課題の1つに臭気がある。本研究では、臭気問題の解決に必要な対策目標値、発生場面と主要成分、空間でのにおいの拡がり方などが明らかになり、対策を提案するのに必要な知見が得られた。