Our study conducted serial measurements of indoor air quality and sick building syndrome (SBS) of employees in eight air-conditioned office buildings to examine the association between indoor air pollution and the reporting symptoms of SBS. Airborne microbes, carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM10), formaldehyde, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured in every test space within the buildings. Frequency of reporting symptoms and other environmental variables were documented by self-administrated questionnaires.
Microbial sampling was used to study indoor air quality in a building where the employees had complained about IAQ for many years. In addition, the symptoms and complaints of the employees working in the building were surveyed by MM40-questionnaire. Workers complained about dust, dirt, dry, stuffy air and unpleasant odor. Tiredness and irritation of upper respiratory tracts and eyes were the most common symptoms. IgG antibodies against microbes commonly found in water damaged buildings, were determined from the serum samples of the employees.
As part of a graduation project, a typical ‘sick’ office building was subject to a retrofit R&D programme. It concerned a typical 1975 building with a sealed façade and a central climate control system with induction units. An interview of the some of the
Current remedial actions to buildings with indoor-environmental problems do not seem to decrease efficiently residents’ symptoms typical of the sick building syndrome (SBS). Apart from potentially unsuccessful renovations (cases), the cause could be that
The best protection of human health from adverse environmental exposures is possible when both the disease and its specific causal exposures are understood.Building-related symptoms (BRS) have caused an increasing public and scientific concern about Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), for over 20 years.
Moisture-related indicators indoors are, e.g. visible mould and damp spots, condensation onthe inside of window panes, detached floor covering materials, flooding and bad odours. Suchindicators are frequently found and are reported to appear in 25-80% of the buildingsworldwide (Bornehag et al., 2001). Dampness has also been identified as a major risk factorfor, e.g. respiratory symptoms such as asthma, cough and wheezing among both children andadults (Bornehag et al., 2001).
Comprehensive field studies in different parts of the world have documented that highpercentages of occupants in many offices and similar buildings find the indoor air quality(IAQ) unacceptable and suffer from SBS symptoms. This occurs even though existingventilation standards and guidelines are met and even though measured concentrations ofpollutants in the air are way below any limits or guideline values. A series of recentindependent studies has documented that mediocre IAQ also has a negative impact on theproductivity of office workers.
In recent years, poor indoor climate has caused health problems for building occupants. Sometimes these problems have been so serious that these buildings have, quite rightly, been labelled sick buildings.Today, there is good evidence in some areas as to why such problems arise. Unhealthy substances given off by various building materials, the existence of mould and general air pollution are the main causes. Another important factor is the high level of humidity in buildings and indoor air.In general, the most important way to remedy the problem is to improve ventilation.
Findings about sick building syndrome in Sydney’s offices are presented. The aim is to ascertain whether perceptions of sick building syndrome in offices impact on discrete aspects of workplace performance and management. One hundred offices in the Sydney
The aim of that study is to establish the relationship between symptoms and report of building dampness and odors.A questionnaire was then sent to the inhabitants of 231 multi-family buildings of Stockholm, containing more than 4800 dwellings, with questions about : personal factors, symptoms, population density in the apartment, water leakage, odors, and signs of high indoor air humidity.A combination of odor and high humidities was linked to high occurrence of the symptoms : humidity in building is therefore associated to Sick building Syndrome.
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