Sick building syndrome
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Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments (a syndrome) associated with an individual's place of work (office building) or residence. A 1984 World Health Organization report into the syndrome suggested up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS. Most of the sick building syndrome is related to poor indoor air quality.[1]
Sick building causes are frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds, molds (see mold health issues), improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals used within, or fresh-air intake location / lack of adequate air filtration (see Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value).
Symptoms are often dealt with after-the-fact by boosting the overall turn-over rate of fresh air exchange with the outside air, but the new green building design goal should be to avoid most of the SBS problem sources in the first place, minimize the ongoing use of VOC cleaning compounds, and eliminate conditions that encourage allergenic, potentially-deadly mold growth.[2]
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[edit] Symptoms
Building occupants complain of symptoms such as sensory irritation of the eyes, nose, throat; neurotoxic or general health problems; skin irritation; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; and odor and taste sensations.[3]
It is possible for a dozen sick occupants to report a surprising array of individual symptoms which may be dismissed as unconnected. The key to discovery is the increased incidence of illnesses in general with onset or exacerbation within a fairly close time frame - usually within a period of weeks. In most cases, SBS symptoms will be relieved soon after the occupants leave the particular room or zone.[4] However, there can be lingering effects of various neurotoxins, which may not clear up when the occupant leaves the building. In particularly sensitive individuals, the potential for long-term health effects cannot be overlooked.
[edit] Causes
The contributing factors often relate to the design of the built environment, and may include combinations of some or all of the following:
- Indoor air quality (including smoking where not prohibited)
- Toxic mold
- Artificial fragrance, such as dryer sheets
- Poor or inappropriate lighting (including absence of or only limited access to natural sunlight)
- Poor heating or ventilation
- Microbial or mite contamination of HVAC systems.
- Bad acoustics or infrasound[5]
- Poorly designed furnishings, furniture and equipment (e.g. computer monitors, photocopiers, etc.).
- Poor ergonomics.
- Chemical contamination.
- Biological contamination.
To the owner or operator of a "sick building", the symptoms may include high levels of employee sickness or absenteeism, lower productivity, low job satisfaction and high employee turnover.
[edit] Prevention
- Pollutant source removal or modification to storage of sources.
- Replacement of water-stained ceiling tiles and carpeting.
- Institution of smoking restrictions.
- Use paints, adhesives, solvents, and pesticides in well-ventilated areas, and use of these pollutant sources during periods of non-occupancy.
- Increase the number of air exchanges, The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers recommend a minimum of 8.4 air exchanges per 24 hour period.
- Proper and frequent maintenance of HVAC systems
- Fitting easy to clean air supply diffusers and ductwork like a textile diffuser
[edit] Gender Differences
There might be a gender difference in reporting rates of sick building syndrome because women tend to report more symptoms than men. They do this because it is suggested that females are more sensitive to environmental contaminants or are more aware of their physical health.[citation needed] Along with this, there have been studies where they found that women have a more responsive immune system and are more prone to mucosal dryness and facial erythema. Also, women are exposed more to indoor environmental factors because they have a tendency to have more clerical work where they are exposed to unique office equipment and materials (example: Blueprint machines), whereas men have jobs based outside of offices..[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "Sick Building Syndrome". United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
- ^ "Mold and Mildew PDF file". National Institute of Environmental Health Science. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/mold/docs/mold.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
- ^ [[:Template:Godish, Thad (2001). Indoor Environmental Quality. New York: CRC Press. pp. 196-197. ISBN 1566704022]]
- ^ {{"Sick Building Syndrome." National Safety Council. (2009) Retrieved April 15, 2009. [1]}}
- ^ Burt (1996). "Sick Building Syndrome: Acoustic Aspects". Indoor and Built Environment 5 (1): 44-59. doi:.
- ^ [[:Template:Godish, Thad (2001). Indoor Environmental uality. New York: CRC Press. pp. 196-197. ISBN 1566704022]]
- Martín-Gil J, Yanguas MC, San José JF, Rey-Martínez and Martín-Gil FJ. "Outcomes of research into a sick hospital". Hospital Management International, 1997, pp 80–82. Sterling Publications Limited.
[edit] Further reading
- Murphy, Michelle. Sick Building Syndrome and the Problem of Uncertainty: Environmental Politics, Technoscience, and Women Workers (Duke University Press, 2006). ISBN 978-0-8223-3671-6.
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