Bath additives were originally obtained from two main sources: hot springs and medicinal plants. They enhance the effects of bathing, such as the warm bathing effect (warming the body, alleviating pain, etc.) and the cleansing effect (removing impurities, making the skin clean, etc.). Accordingly, the effects and efficacy of bath additives are defined by the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices. The main benefit of each type of bath additive depends on its effects: the carbon dioxide gas type improves blood flow, the inorganic salts type improves the retention of body heat, the skincare type moisturizes the skin, and the refreshing type leaves the bather feeling refreshed. Fragrances are thought to enhance the bather»s feeling of relaxation and refreshment, thereby alleviating fatigue and improving quality of sleep. This article outlines recent topics and literature related to bath additives and bathing.

A parasol is one of the preventive measures against heat illness. The objective of this study is to clarify the UTCI reduction of seven parasols with different materials and colors. Measurements were conducted at Daido University, Nagoya in July and August 2013. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, and upward and downward long and short-wave radiation fluxes were measured under the sun and parasols. Following findings were obtained through the measurements. The solar shading rates of the parasols were almost constant regardless of the solar radiation. The maximum solar shading rate was identified to be 99.7% for the white polyester (100%) parasol laminated with polyurethane film, and the minimum was 48.3% for the white polyester (65%) and cotton (35%) mixture parasol. Downward long-wave radiation fluxes from the parasols were increased with increasing solar radiation. The increase rate in long-wave radiation was larger for black parasols than for white parasols. At solar radiation of 1,000W/m², the MRT under parasols was lower by 7.9°C to 15.0°C than in the sun. The maximum UTCI reduction was -3.7°C among the parasols tested at solar radiation over 800W/m².

The objective of this study is to obtain fundamental knowledge about the indoor thermal environment of wooden detached houses heated using a wood stove. In winter of 2018, field measurements of air temperature, globe temperature and relative humidity in different types of houses with a wood stove were conducted in Kaneyama Town, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. In the case of the type of contemporary house which is highly insulated and airtight, the indoor thermal environment was relatively warmer, the fluctuation of air temperature was small and the thermal radiation environment was favorable. In the case of the type of traditional house which the thatched roof has been removed and renovated according to the regional housing style, the indoor thermal environment was a relatively lower and the fluctuation of the air temperature was large. This tendency appeared in the morning when the wood stove was used in the short term. The relative humidity was low when using a wood stove. As a result, it is clarified that the volume and space composition of the house are important elements in to examine the thermal environments formed by a wood stove in addition to the insulation and airtightness of the house.