Measures against sick houses

This is the site of Health Sanitation Division, Health and Safety Department, Yokohama City Public Health Center. Provides information on measures to prevent sick house syndrome.
"To prevent sick house syndrome from renovating the interior of the house" (PDF: 179KB) (Document released by the Consumer Affairs Agency on November 28, 2014)

What is Sick House Syndrome?
Indoor concentration guideline values for volatile organic compounds, etc.
To prevent sick house syndrome
Measures against sick houses in Yokohama City

In recent years, due to the increasing airtightness of buildings and the use of chemical substances in building materials and interior materials, the number of chemical substances in indoor air has increased in houses, buildings, schools, etc. after new construction or renovation, and various health problems have occurred in residents. It is often reported that. It is called "Sick House Syndrome" because there are various symptoms, many unexplained parts such as the mechanism of symptom occurrence, and various compound factors can be considered.

The following symptoms may appear when entering a room after new construction or renovation.

• It has a sense of irritation in the eyes and makes it shy.
• Headache, dizziness, and nausea
• I have runny nose, tears, and coughs
• I have dry nose and throat, irritation or pain.
• Somehow I feel tired or sleepy
• The skin is dry, red, and itchy

Even if such symptoms appear indoors, it is characteristic that it subsides when you go out of the room. In addition, there are individual differences in the presence and degree of symptoms, and some people have strong symptoms even in the same environment, while others have no symptoms at all.

[Poster]
Some people are in trouble (PDF: 1,158KB) (prepared by the Consumer Affairs Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment)

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides guidelines for indoor air concentrations for the following 13 substances, including formaldehyde. This guideline is set as a concentration that is determined not to be harmful to health even if a person is exposed to less than the indicated concentration of the chemical for a lifetime (however, formaldehyde only uses short-term exposures as an indicator of health effects).

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set a provisional target of "Total volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC)" to "400 micrograms/m3" as a mixture of multiple chemical substances (December 22, 2000).
This value is a value set within the range that can be reasonably achieved based on the results of a survey of the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air in domestic houses. Although it is not determined from the knowledge of science, it is determined as a guide for the state of indoor air quality.
This is a value that should be referenced as a complementary indicator for reducing volatile organic compounds in indoor air as a whole.

≪What is VOC?≫

Abbreviation of volatile organic compounds (VolatileOrganic Compounds), refers to chemical substances that are volatile at room temperature and are contained in the air.
WHO classifies organic compounds that may cause indoor air pollution according to the boiling point as follows.

Chemicals that cause sick house syndrome can be reduced by effective ventilation.

≪Points of effective ventilation≫

• Open two or more windows, make effective use of ventilation fans and ventilation openings, and create air entrances in two directions so that air can pass through.
• Be careful not to block small windows and air outlets for ventilation with furniture.
• Let's arrange furniture so as not to disturb the flow of air.
• Clean the ventilation fan filter and fan frequently.

• Let's not bring the source into the room
  Chemical substances are also generated from insect repellents, air fresheners, insecticide, etc. Let's use it in accordance with the proper usage.
• Beware of cigarette smoke
  Tobacco smoke contains harmful substances. Limited where you smoke and provide sufficient ventilation.
• Be careful when using stoves
  Open stoves that use oil and gas generate harmful combustion gases, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Let's have enough ventilation.

Due to the revision of the Building Standards Law (enforced on July 1, 2003), sick house measures when designing and constructing buildings have been established.
Specifically, please see homepage (outside site) of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The Chemical Substance Safety Office of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also provides information on sick house measures.
Specifically, please see page (outside site) of sick house measures of chemical substance safety measures room.

In Yokohama City, we are promoting initiatives to prevent sick house syndrome at facilities used by many citizens.

[Public buildings (facilities constructed or managed by Yokohama City)]
In addition to being examined at the liaison meeting within the agency “Yokohama City Sick House Countermeasures Liaison Conference” (Secretariat: Health Sanitation Division Medical Care Bureau), the “Yokohama City Public Building Sick House Countermeasures Guidelines” (April 7, 2004) was established as a guideline for all agencies, and sick house measures are taken based on this.

[other than public buildings]
On December 20, 2005, we established the "Yokohama City Building Sick House Measures Guidelines" for facilities used by many citizens, including private buildings.

The liaison meeting within the agency comprising 10 stations, including Medical Care Bureau, Housing and Architecture Bureau and Board of Education Secretariat, and 19 sections, is examining matters necessary for promoting sick house measures.
It was established in 2002 and has been held a total of 30 times by March 2012.

≪Minutes of the Meeting≫

• FY2011 (30th) (PDF: 149KB)
• 2010 (29th) (PDF: 108KB)
• FY2009 (28th) (PDF: 95KB)
• 2007 (27th) (PDF: 74KB)
• 2006 (24th to 26th) (PDF: 477KB)
• 2005 (19th to 23rd) (PDF: 467KB)
• 2004 (15th to 18th) (PDF: 173KB)
• 2003 (3rd to 14th) (PDF: 357KB)
• FY2002 (1st and 2nd) (PDF: 108KB)

For public buildings constructed or managed by Yokohama City and used by many citizens, we have established comprehensive sick house measures from the construction stage of facilities to daily management.

• Yokohama City Public Building Sick House Countermeasures Guidelines
• About development of Yokohama-shi public building sick house measures guidelines (April, 2004) (PDF: 236KB)
• Yokohama-shi public building sick house measures guidelines manual (PDF: 837KB)
• Collection of Yokohama-shi public building sick house measures guidelines reference materials (PDF: 1,356KB)

≪Overview of Initiatives≫

1 Building design, construction and construction management

In building design and construction management, we will restrict the use of building materials and secure appropriate ventilation.

2 Selection of furniture

When purchasing new fixtures, etc., select one with a small amount of chemical substances such as formaldehyde.

3 Indoor concentration measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc.

When the furniture is delivered after new construction and furniture is brought in, the indoor concentration of volatile organic compounds etc. is measured to confirm safety.
In addition, among the facilities already used at the time of the enforcement of the guidelines, for facilities that have not performed indoor concentration measurement, indoor concentration measurement will be carried out systematically.

4 Daily management

Consider the use of chemical substances such as insecticide and floor wax and provide sufficient ventilation.

5 Information Provision

We announce about conduct result of indoor concentration measurement promptly and provide information to citizen. In addition, we will work with related organizations such as manufacturers.

Based on the "Yokohama City Public Building Sick House Countermeasures Guidelines", we measure indoor concentrations of public buildings constructed and managed by Yokohama City. The results of indoor concentration measurement are published on the page of "Indoor concentration measurement results of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in public buildings".

For buildings used by many citizens, including private facilities, as well as public buildings, the comprehensive approach from the construction stage of the facility to daily management is determined.

• About establishment of "Yokohama-shi building sick house measures guidelines" [news to citizen use facility managers] (PDF: 266KB)
• Yokohama City Building Sick House Countermeasures Guidelines-Guide for those who design, construct, and manage buildings-(PDF: 5,596KB)