Sick building syndrome (SBS) in office workers and facial skin symptoms among VDT - workers in relation to building and room characteristics: two case- referent studies

In two case-referent studies the associations between questionnaire symptom reports, expressed as SES (Sick Building Syndrome) in office workers or facial skin symptoms among VDT-workers, and physical data from offices in 160 buildings were investigated. The results show that low outdoor airflow rate and presence of certain pollution sources, such as copying machines, tended to be associated with an elevated prevalence of SES. Buildings built or remodeled between 1977 and 1986, low-rise buildings with a horizontal roof and a foundation of the type "concrete slab on the ground", as well as rooms with fluorescent tube lighting with metal shields were also associated with higher SBS risks. A number of factors were associated with an over representation of skin symptoms among VDT-workers such as type of foundation (concrete slab on the ground and crawlspace), the frequency of floor cleaning and type of lighting (fluorescent tubes with glass/ plastic shields). It has not been possible to establish conclusive explanations for these associations. The difference in associations between building factors and SES, and between building factors and skin symptoms among VDT-workers points to different etiologies.