Sick building syndrome (SBS)
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) refers to a collection of health issues experienced by individuals who spend significant time in certain indoor environments, typically workplaces, schools, and homes, where no specific cause can be identified. Symptoms of SBS can include respiratory problems, headaches, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, throat, and skin. These symptoms tend to worsen with prolonged exposure to the building and improve when away from it. SBS is often linked to poor indoor air quality, which can be exacerbated by inadequate ventilation, the use of synthetic building materials, and various indoor pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, secondhand smoke, and biological contaminants like mold and bacteria.
The rise in SBS cases has been associated with increased energy conservation measures leading to more airtight buildings and reliance on recirculated air systems. Notably, laptops and computers contribute additional heat, further complicating ventilation challenges. While SBS is distinct from specific building-related illnesses that can be directly traced to identifiable contaminants, it remains a public health concern warranting vigilance and appropriate responses to indoor air quality. Strategies to mitigate SBS include improving ventilation, using air-purifying plants, and allowing new furnishings to off-gas before occupancy.
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Sick building syndrome (SBS)
DEFINITION: Illness effects among building occupants that are linked to time spent in the building and for which no other apparent causes can be identified
Awareness of the health problems caused by indoor air pollution and the recognition of sick building syndrome led governments in some industrialized nations to establish guidelines for acceptable levels of gaseous indoor air pollutants and to develop recommendations regarding procedures for detoxifying indoor spaces.
The illness known as sick building syndrome (SBS) is often a problem in office buildings but can be evident in homes, schools, nurseries, and libraries. In industrialized nations, the average person spends 80 to 90 percent of the day indoors. The longer an individual spends in an affected environment, the more severe the symptoms of SBS can become. Since the 1970s, buildings have become more airtight in response to concerns about conservation of energy. Many heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems are designed to recirculate indoor air rather than to draw in fresh, filtered air from outside. Also, systems that bring in polluted outdoor air may contribute to building-related illnesses. Lack of ventilation is one primary cause of the trapping of natural and (human-caused) indoor pollutants and the onset of SBS.
The symptoms of SBS appear to increase in severity with time spent in an affected building and decrease or disappear with time away from the building. Symptoms include respiratory problems such as coughing; increased allergic reactions and sneezing; irritation of the eyes, throat, nose, and skin; and headaches. Some people experience severe fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Not all individuals exposed to the same indoor contaminants experience similar symptoms, and some may feel no ill effects. Microenvironments may exist within a building; for example, inhabitants of offices sharing a common wall might experience unique symptoms. Many symptoms of SBS are similar to those of common allergies or illnesses, and often sufferers do not seek help or may be misdiagnosed. The rise in SBS cases seen in the late twentieth century may be related to several factors, such as increased usage of synthetic building materials, higher stress and greater regimentation in workplaces, and a general increase in number of workers employed in office settings.
There is no single cause of SBS, but many sources of indoor may contribute to SBS, including secondhand tobacco smoke, ozone and heat from photocopiers and computers, off-gassing of volatile compounds (compounds composed exclusively of hydrogen and carbon) from new carpet and furniture, asbestos, lead in paint, formaldehyde, microbials, respirable and inhalable particulates, dust mites, and gases such as carbon monoxide. Biological contaminants that are found where temperature and moisture levels are high are bacteria, pollen, mildew, and mold, all of which can increase SBS symptoms when inhaled. The presence of computers seems to be a significant contributor to the onset of SBS because of their heat production, which often results in the installation of air-conditioning systems that can exacerbate the problem.
SBS is generally distinguished from building-related illnesses that are caused by to specific indoor contaminants that can be definitively diagnosed. Alveolitis, bronchospasm, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis can be caused by the lodging of airborne allergens in the alveoli of the lungs, the bronchi of the lungs, the nose, or the eyes, respectively. Legionnaires’ disease is associated with commonly transmitted through contaminated water sources, such as evaporative condensers or distribution systems. SBS is rarely attributed to one specific exposure and is therefore more difficult to detect and treat.
Public health officials have advised that seemingly minor complaints by office workers should be accepted as serious, and, if SBS is suspected, investigation should begin to determine if the building’s indoor air quality is acceptable and to identify the cause of the suspected outbreak. If no obvious breakdown of ventilation systems or major pollution sources are identified, additional precautionary measures should be taken. Filters should be cleaned, ventilation systems checked, humidity conditions lowered, and new carpets and paints allowed to off-gas and settle before any workers are expected to spend time in newly renovated areas. Increasing the rate at which the ventilation system supplies outdoor air to the interior has also been found to be helpful.
Alternative solutions include the addition of common houseplants that extract contaminants in the air through their leaves, particularly formaldehyde, benzol, phenol, and nicotine. A study conducted at the Botanical Institute at the University of Cologne in Germany showed that certain hydroculture plants (plants grown in a nonsoil medium) are efficient at absorbing pollutants and transforming 90 percent of these chemical substances into sugars, oxygen, and new plant material. These plants provide moisture to the air without contributing fungus spores.
Bibliography
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Murphy, Michelle. Sick Building Syndrome and the Problem of Uncertainty: Environmental Politics, Technoscience, and Women Workers. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2006.
Redlich, Carrie A., Judy Sparer, and Mark R. Cullen. “Sick-Building Syndrome.” The Lancet 349 (April 5, 1997): 1013-1016.
Sherrell, Zia. "Sick Building Syndrome: Symptoms and Causes." Medical News Today, 5 Feb. 2024, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sick-building-syndrome. Accessed 23 July 2024.
Vallero, Daniel. “Indoor Air Quality.” In Fundamentals of Air Pollution. 5th ed. Academic Press, 2014.