The Sick Building Syndrome

HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 (2011)

Editorial Article

(SBS)

Fotoula P. Babatsikou

Assistant Professor of Nursing

he term "sick building syndrome", was symptoms of SBS are likely the result of a first coined in the 1970s and is used to combination of factors. T describe a situation in which the occupants of a building experience acute These factors may include: health or a broad range of labels that covers  Chemical pollutants such as combustion a variety of symptoms which are triggered pollutants, the main pollutants from this when people spend time in a particular source are Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) , building. It is described as a group of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Carbon symptoms attributed to the physical Monoxide (CO) 1-6 environment of specific buildings and it is an  Chemical pollutants from indoor sources increased health problem for the workers of such as Volatile Organic Compounds modern office buildings 1-5. (VOCs), formaldehyde (HCHO) from dust, The cause of the symptoms is not known. carpeting, adhesives, upholstery, Problems arise as specific symptoms such as cleaning agents, environmental tobacco skin rashes, headache, nausea, dizziness, smoke, particle board, paints, varnishes, itchy eyes, throat irritation, dry or itching marker pens, electronic equipment etc skin, rashes, dry cough, hoarseness of voice, 1,2,4,5,8-11 increased incidence of asthma attacks and  Heavy metals such as lead and mercury nasal allergy symptoms. Sometimes, more 1,2,5,8,10 vague symptoms are presented such as  Ozone produced by printers and fatigue, pains and aches, difficulty in photocopiers1,2,5,8,10 concentration, sensitivity to odours and  Biological Pollutants such as Viruses, personality changes 4-7. The symptoms Bacteria, Dust Mites, Pollen, Toxic Black usually resolve soon after leaving the Mold, Insect Body Parts and bird building but may remain skin symptoms and droppings etc 1,5-8, 10 dryness of the skin which it takes a few days  Electromagnetic radiation like 5-8 to be cured . televisions, computers and In most cases sick building syndrome microwaves1,5,8, 10 seems to only occur in certain types of  Inadequate ventilation such as defective buildings such as in these with automated heating systems, malfunctioning heating, air-conditioning and systems ventilation and air-conditioning systems ventilation, although it may also occur in 4,5,7,10 other communal buildings such as Hospitals,  Psychological factors such as excessive Schools, Educational Institutes, and 1-4 work stress, poor staff morale, poor apartment buildings . interpersonal relationships, poor While specific causes of SBS remain communication, dissatisfaction and other unknown, most experts believe that the psychosocial factors 8,12

HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 (2011)

 Other Factors such as poor and Bibliography inappropriate lighting, fluorescent lighting, absence of sunlight, humidity, 1. National Institute for Occupational Safety temperature, noise, bad office design, and Health poor ergonomics 1-6,8,11 www.cdc.gov/niosh 2. American Society of Heating, After a thorough environmental health Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning inspection, prevention and control may help Engineers (ASHRAE) www.ashrae.org to reduce the frequency and severity of 3. Indoor Air Facts No. 4 (revised) Sick symptoms. building syndrome. Available from: Measures taken may include a general http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs. cleanliness of the building, opening windows 4. Purushottam K. The sick building for fresh air, interiors lighting and colour syndrome. Indian J Occup Health 2001; must mix well with the surroundings. An 44 (1):36-40. overall checking and cleaning of the heating, 5. Joshi SM. The sick building syndrome. ventilation, air-conditioning system, air Indian J Occup Environ Med 2008; 12(2): filters, humidifiers, cooling towers and air- 61–64. conditioning system maintenance schedules, 6. Redlich CA, Sparer J, Cullen MR. Sick should be done 7,10,11. It is very useful to building syndrome. Lancet 1997;349 implement structural repairs to prevent leaks (9057):1013-1016 and humidity, removal or modification of the 7. IAQ fact sheet sick building syndrome, pollutant source, a review of chemicals used Environmental Health Center. Available in the building (nontoxic building material from: should be used in walls, floors and ceilings) 1- http://www.nsc.org/ehc/indoor/sbs. 5. 8. Marmot AF, Eley J, Stafford M, Stansfeld Additionally, protective measures must SA, Warwick E, Marmot MG. Building be taken against noise pollution, banning of health: an epidemiological study of "sick smoking in the workplace, a review of building syndrome" in the Whitehall II cleaning practices (that cleaning materials study. Occup Environ Med. 2006; 63 are being properly used and stored), and a (4):283-289. thermal insulation. Furthermore, Education 9. Molhave L, Clausen G, Berglund B, De and Legislation is the key practice for Ceaurriz J, Kettrup A, Lindvall T. et al. removing all these pollutants and health Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) catastrophes agents 5-8, 10. in indoor air quality investigations. Indoor However, it must be considered that the Air 1997; 7: 225–240. Sick Building Syndrome is not only a health 10. Tearle P. The sick building syndrome. hazard for employees but it is an additional Commun Dis Public Health 1999; 2 cost for businesses through low productivity (4)303–304. and high sickness absence. For this reason 11. Hodgson M. Indoor environmental the Sick Building Syndrome must be cured. exposures and symptoms. Environ Health Perspect. 2002; 110 (4):663-667. 12. Lahtinen M, Sundman-Digert C, Reijula K. Psychosocial work environment and indoor air problems: a questionnaire as a means of problem diagnosis. Occup Environ Med. 2004; 61(2):143-149.