Sick Building Syndrome symptoms

Many studies have been carried out to identify the symptoms associated with SBS. References 6 are representative of these. Table 12.1 was compiled from these and other sources as well as from the experiences of this writer with SBS. It should be noted that the symptoms listed in Table 12.1 are composites of many reports. All are not found at any one site. Also, though the symptoms are those self-reported by the occupants of the sick buildings surveyed, they have been given credence because multiple individuals, often without contact with one another, have reported identical symptoms. 

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Bachmann MO, Myers JE Influences on sick building syndrome symptoms in three buildings. Soc Sci Med 40 245-251,1995... 

Bourbeau J, Brisson C, Allaire S Prevalence of the sick building syndrome symptoms in office workers before and after being exposed to a building with an improved ventilation system. Occup Environ Med 53 204-210, 1996 Bourbeau J, Brisson C, Allaire S Prevalence of the sick building syndrome symptoms in office workers before and six months and three years after being exposed to a building with an improved ventilation system. Occup Environ Med 54 49-53, 1997... 

Norbdck et al. (1993) measured 1-week concentrations of l-octen-3-ol in the bedroom air and personal air of 39 Swedish subjects. The subjects were selected from a random population, but their willingness to participate may have been influenced by their perceptions of sick building syndrome symptoms and poor lAQ at their workplaces. Concentrations of l-octen-3-ol in bedroom air and personal air were 2 and 6 pg/m respectively (arithmetic means) with concentration ranges of <1-50 and <1-140 pg/m respectively. A significant correlation (p <0.05) was observed between the occurrence of facial itching/rashes and the concentration of l-octen-3-ol. 

Sick Building Syndrome Term that refers to a set of symptoms that affect some number of building occupants during the time they spend in the building and diminish or go away during periods when they leave the building. Cannot be traced... 

Sick building syndrome (SBS) The group of symptoms related to poor air quality,... 

SICK BUILDING SYNDROME A group of symptoms more common in workers in certain buildings and which are temporarily related to working in them. Symptoms include lethargy, tiredness, headache also sore/dry eyes, dry throat, dry skin, symptoms suggestive of asthma, blocked or runny nose. Cause is multifunctional but does include agents encountered in the workplace. 

Phenol and other volatile organic compounds were measured in the air of 50 homes or apartments in Finland (Kostiainen 1995). The average concentration was 0.23 ppb, with a range of 0-0.77 ppb. Phenol levels were not significantly higher in houses in which people complained of symptoms that resembled those of a sick building syndrome. 

Camarasa and Serra-Baldrich [94] reported allergic contact dermatitis after repeated contact with TPP-treated plastics. Meeker and Stapleton [95] indicated endocrine disruptive properties for TPP and TDCiPP, through a negative correlation with semen quality and thyroid hormone levels, respectively. Kanazawa et al. [71] associated mucosal symptoms of the sick building syndrome with high indoor exposure to TBP. These symptoms include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat symptoms such as flushing, and mucosal symptoms such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat the latter symptoms were strongly associated with TBP levels in air and dust. 

Wargocki, P., Wyon, D.P., Baik, Y.K., Clausen, G. and Fanger, P.O. (1999) Perceived air quality, sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity in an office with two different pollution loads. Indoor Air, 9, 165-79. 

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe office worker discomfort and medical symptoms related to buildings and pollutant exposures, work organization, and personal risk factors. A wide range of definitions exists. Symptoms commonly considered integral parts of the syndrome are listed in Table 1. In recent years, with increased understanding, odors have generally been dropped from the list and chest symptoms have been included under mucous membrane irritation. 

Table 12.1 Symptoms Associated with Sick Building Syndrome...

After the discovery of MVOC, these compounds were also thought to provoke certain symptoms of sick building syndrome in view of their similarity to commonly found VOC, which may cause symptoms like headache and dizziness. However, since MVOC concentrations are normally 2-3 decimal powers lower than those of comparable VOC, these low concentrations should not be expected to have any effects in indoor air [75]. Mutagenic, cytotoxic or genotoxic effects were not found in vitro in mammalian cells with typical MVOC like 2-pentylfuran, 1-butanol, 2-butanone, 3-methyl-l-butanol, 2-methyl-l-propanol, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, l-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone or... 

TABLE 18-9. Common symptoms of sick building syndrome ... 

Bachmann MO, Truck AV, Myers JE Sick building symptoms in office workers a followup study before and one year after changing buildings. Occup Med 45 11-15,1995 Bauer RM, Greve KW, Besch EL, et al The role of psychological factors in the report of building-related symptoms in sick building syndrome. J Consult Clin Psychol 60 213-219,1992... 

Hodgson MJ, Frohliger J, Permar E, et al Symptoms and microenvironmental measures in nonproblem buildings. J Occup Med 33 527-533,1991 Jaakkola JJK, Tuomaala P, Seppanen O Air recirculation and sick building syndrome a blinded crossover trial. Am J Public Health 84 422-428,1994 Martin JR The sensitive individual and the indoor environment case study. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 56 1121-1126, 1995... 

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) A health condition or symptoms possibly related to possible contaminants existing in building but without medical or scientific confirmation. 

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