Field survey on the effect of thermal environment and air quality at home on blood pressure and lung capacity

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22443
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0304:Architecture, building engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Umishio Wataru 東京工業大学, 環境・社会理工学院, 助教 (90881863)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 温熱環境 / 空気質 / 血圧 / 肺活量 / 実測調査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted a nationwide field survey of houses and residents, and completed a survey of about 200 households for the two years of 2020 and 2021. Indoor thermal environment, air quality, mold, etc. were measured as indicators on the living environment, and circulatory function, respiratory function, etc. were measured as health indicators, and data from a questionnaire survey on housing performance and personal attributes were obtained.
Based on the analysis of 231 people (132 households) surveyed in 2020, residents of houses with large daily range of bedroom room temperature in winter and houses with high concentration of indoor chemical Styrene had high blood pressure. It was also shown that residents living in houses with high concentration of α-Pinene, which is a component of woody scent, may maintain good respiratory function.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、世界の死因の7割を占める非感染性疾患（循環器疾患・がん・呼吸器疾患）の予防に貢献する居住環境のあり方を探究するための基礎調査である。住環境指標（温熱環境・空気質・カビ）や循環器・呼吸器疾患に関連する健康指標（血圧・肺機能）を客観的に測定し、その関連を検証した事例は世界的に見ても僅少であり、この点が学術的意義と捉えている。また、住宅内の温熱環境・空気質と血圧・肺機能に有意な関連が認められたことから、良好な居住環境の提案に向けた知見が得られつつあり、本研究成果の社会的意義に繋がるものと期待している。