Public Health

Sick House Syndrome Incidence On The Rise
In Kobe Following Earthquake

TOKYO, Apr 13 (Reuters) - The Hyogo Prefectural
Government recently reported an increase in the
number of complaints of eye and throat pain by
survivors of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake
after they moved into new houses.

The houses were built from plywood that failed
to meet the formaldehye emission limits set by
the Japanese Agricultural Standard. Many quake
survivors built their homes using substandard
plywood because the disaster left them in
financial ruin.

In fiscal 1997, there were 19 reported cases of
"sick house" syndrome. In 1996, there were 3
cases, and in both 1995 and 1994 there was 1
case each of "sick house" syndrome reported to
the Kobe Seikatsu Kagaku Center in the Hyogo
Prefecture.

Citizens groups in nearby Osaka report that the
levels of formaldehyde and other harmful
chemicals inside the new houses test at
"alarmingly" high levels. Air in 13 of the 15
houses surveyed contained more than 0.08 parts
per million of formaldehyde, which is the legal
limit set by the Ministry of Health and
Welfare.

One house in Kobe, Japan, had a formaldehyde
level of 1.8 ppm, which is 22 times the
ministry-set limit. The owner said that
carpenters complained about eye irritation
during construction.

by Sandra Katzman