In order to examine the effect of thermal environment and air quality produced by central air-conditioned school buildings on the health of school children, we conducted a field survey (Part 1) and an experimental study (Part 2). The results obtained can be summarized as follows:
　　(Part 1) Field survey: Environmental survey of some schools in Aomori Prefecture and Tokyo
　1) Central heating room with double windows made of ferroconcrete was found to have a higher temperature and lower humidity in winter. Skin temperature of children stayed in this room were high, thus the temperature gradient from surface to core became lower. This type of distribution of body temperature is the representative one seen in winter. Sickness absence rate of the children was higher, while those stayed in the classroom made of wood and heated moderately with stove had lower limb temperature and uneven skin and core temperature. This distribution of core and skin temperature is an adapted condition to cold environment. The sickness absence rate was lower in the latter case than that of school children in the former in a central heating room.
　2) In summer, we surveyed the thermal environment and air quality of central air conditioned school building in Tokyo in 1982. In some cases, we found considerably low room temperature of E.T. 17.7℃ in a cooling classroom and a constant high speed air draft of 0.9 m/sec in high summer season. The conditions may give some adverse health effect.
　　(Part 2) Experimental study in an artificial climate chamber at Tokyo Gakugei University:
　The authers tried to examine the effect of abrupt out door exercise in hot summer season of maximum daily temperature 30-33℃ after staying in the cooling room taking the physiological indices such as skin and core temperatures, blood pressure, O₂ comsumption, and subjective thermal sensation. We carried out the experiment under the following three protocols; (1) at rest under the hot summer environment after staying in the cooling room for 50 min., (2) physical exercise of bicycle ergometer after staying in the cooling room for 50 min., and (3) physical exercise of bicycle ergometer without staying in the cooling room.
　The results obtained are as follows:
　1) Entered into the cooling room, skin and core temperature depressed rapidly, and the minimum blood pressure was raised. And then exposed to the hot summer environment, skin temperature increased rapidly but core temperatures unchanged, especially leg core temperature continued to decrease for about 20 min., This tendency was more pronounced in children than in adult.
　2) Loading physical exercise in hot summer environment after the stay in the cooling room, leg core temperature showed a tenency of decrease but began to increase after loading bicycle ergometer. Core and skin temperatures continued to be unbalanced.
　3) Physical activity in hot summer environment without staying in cooler environment requires higher O₂ consumption and shows lower blood pressure raise than the case after staying in cooler environments.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.10/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE