sick building syndrome
This syndrome addresses situations when people dwelling within a particular building experiences small health or comfort effects. However, the sickness cannot be identified. Another similar term called “building related illness” (BRI) is when the causes of the illness can be identified and understood. (Indoor Air Facts, No. 4: Sick Building Syndrome, 1991)
How to identify Sick Building Syndrome?
Causes
How to identify Sick Building Syndrome?
- When people within the building complain or experience acute health problems. This health problems include headaches, eye irritation, nose irritation, throat irritation, dry skin, dry cough, dizziness, and fatigue.
- When the causes of these health effects cannot be identified.
- When the dwellers of the building feel better shortly after moving out of the building.
Causes
- Inadequate Ventilation: This can occur if HVAC systems do not effectively distribute air.
- Chemical contaminants from indoor sources: Some chemical contaminants include: VOCs (from adhesives, carpets, wood products, pesticides, environmental tobacco, and cleaning agents), carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
- Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources
- Biological contaminants: Biological contaminants include bacteria, molds, viruses, and pollen.
- Pollutant Source Removal or Modification: An example of pollutant source removal or modification is a ventilation of places that contain paints, solvents, adhesives, and pesticides.
- Increasing Ventilation and Air Distribution
- Air Cleaning: For example, a nice contribution to air cleaning is particle control devices like filters that catches small particles.
- (Indoor Air Facts, No. 4: Sick Building Syndrome, 1991)