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The Influence of School Environment on the SBS Symptoms and the Development of Asthma and Allergy

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Sick Building Syndrome

Abstract

Since there has been a rising prevalence of asthma and allergy worldwide, especially in the younger generation, there is a need to identify both risk factors and protective factors for asthma and allergy development. The reasons for the increase are still unknown, but it has been suggested that indoor environmental exposure and dietary factors may influence the development of asthma and allergy. Research has therefore paid special attention to the school environment, for exposure to allergens. There are some studies of the prevalence of self reported asthma and allergy to pollen and ferry pets among school children and to relate these health effects to age, gender, current dietary factors current urban residency, growing up in a rural environment, and selected environmental factors in the current dwelling. Previous studies have demonstrated contamination with cat and dog and house dust-mites allergens in the classrooms, which could cause symptoms of asthma and allergy. The view that dietary habits among pupils and the school environment should not be neglected and indoor allergens exposure needs to be further investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosphere Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Kobe College, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan

    Motoko Takaoka

  2. Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University and University Hospital, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Dan Norbäck

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  1. Motoko Takaoka
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  2. Dan Norbäck
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Correspondence to Motoko Takaoka .

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    Sabah A. Abdul-Wahab

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Takaoka, M., Norbäck, D. (2011). The Influence of School Environment on the SBS Symptoms and the Development of Asthma and Allergy. In: Abdul-Wahab, S. (eds) Sick Building Syndrome. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17919-8_8

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