English

Describes a study which aimed to quantify health symptom reports in four 'non-problem' buildings. Also attempted to assess the relationship between symptoms and air quality measures, characteristics of workstations and psychosocial aspects of the workplace. The method used environmental sampling and a questionnaire. High report of symptoms contrasted with low measured contaminant levels. Symptoms were associated with occupant perception of air movement, dryness, odour, and noise.

Studies the relationship between sick building syndrome symptoms and both personal and environmental factors in 225 female hospital workers in eight hospitals in the south of Sweden. The method used a self-administered questionnaire and a building survey and measurements of room temperature, supply air temperature, air humidity and exhaust air flow. Eye irritation was more common in buildings with a high ventilation flow and a high noise level from the ventilation system. Throat symptoms were more common in buildings with a high ventilation flow, among others.

Refers to the Office Illness Project from northern Sweden which showed that female gender, asthma/rhinitis, high psychosocial workload, visual display terminal and paperwork were related to an increased prevalence of facial skin symptoms. The study reported in this article used data from the Swedish study's questionnaire, supplemented with information from a clinical examination, a survey of psychosocial factors at work, building data and VDT-related factors from inspection and measurements taken at the workplace.

States that correctional facilities in the US can be susceptible to outbreaks of respiratory infections due to overpopulation. Risk factors for pneumococcal disease were assessed in a case-control and a cohort study. The jail studied had a capacity of 3500 inmates but housed 6700. Median living area was 34 ft2. Fewer cases of disease were identified among inmates with 80 ft2 per person or more. CO2 levels were over the acceptable level.

The effectiveness of in-room air filtration systems was experimentally evaluated, specifically portable air filters (PAFs) and ceiling-mounted air filters, in conjunction with dilution ventilation, in order to control TB exposure in high-risk environments. A test aerosol was continuously generated and released into a full-sized room. Time-averaged airborne particle concentrations were measured at several points. The effectiveness was determined by a comparison of particle concentrations with and without device operation. Increasing rate of air flow did not always increase effectiveness.

An attempt was made to find any association between employees' respiratory tract symptoms and immediate skin test reaction with exposure to fungal and house dust mite aeroallergens at the workplace. Six mechanically ventilated non-industrial buildings were considered in Montreal. Concludes that potentially avoidable exposure to aeroallergens accounted for symptoms in a small subgroup of office employees with frequent work-related respiratory tract symptoms.

Describes the investigation in 1994 of a suspected case of sick building syndrome at a communications centre. The building's central HVAC systems had a poor record of maintenance, and there had been continual structural modifications to the building. Inspection revealed the presence of fungal growth in the HVAC system. Remediation included employing a dedicated mechanic to implement a preventive maintenance programme. A significant drop in fungal concentrations was revealed as a result.

The study described attempted to assess the relative efficacy of personal respiratory protection when infectious aerosol concentration increases or room ventilation rates decrease. A variable for respirator leakage was added to the Wells-Riley mathematical model of airborne transmission of disease. States that infection risk decreases exponentially with increasing room ventilation or personal respiratory protection. As room ventilation rates increase, or concentrations of infectious aerosols decrease, the relative efficacy of personal respiratory protection decreases.

In order to examine the possible effects of humidifier use on asthma control, a randomised controlled study was performed. No significant differences were found when analyses were restricted to portable humidifiers, allergies to mites and/or moulds, and infrequently cleaned humidifiers.

The authors used data from the Children's Respiratory Study in Tuscon, Arizona, USA to study the relationship between home environment and lower respiratory tract illness in infants. Health babies were recruited at birth. In the first year, 196 babies (21%) had wheezing LRI and 60 (6%) had non-wheezing LRI. Wheezing risk was higher for babies with evaporative home cooling (24%). Non-wheezing LRI linked with parents' rating of neighbourhood dust levels. There was no relation to type of home heating, cooking fuel, or pets.