Cause of sick building syndrome: Sick building syndrome – NHS

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Sick Building Syndrome: Testing, Treatment, and Prevention

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Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Kristeen Cherney — Updated on September 18, 2018

What is sick building syndrome?

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a name for a condition that’s thought to be caused by being in a building or other type of enclosed space. It’s attributed to poor indoor air quality. However, the precise cause is unknown. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, poor indoor air quality can be found in about 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings.

Sometimes diagnosing SBS can be difficult because of the wide range of symptoms. These can also mimic other conditions, such as the common cold. The key to SBS is that your symptoms improve after leaving the building in question, only to come back when you return to the same location. If you notice recurring symptoms that seem to appear whenever you’re in a particular building, you may consider investigating sick building syndrome as the cause.

SBS symptoms can affect your skin, respiratory, and neurological systems. You may mistakenly self-diagnose yourself with a cold or flu.

Among the possible symptoms are:

throat irritation
breathing difficulties
tightness in the chest
runny nose
allergy-like symptoms, such as sneezing
burning sensations in the nose
dry, itchy skin rashes
headaches
dizziness
difficulty concentrating
forgetfulness
fatigue
irritability
nausea
body aches
fever
chills

If you have allergies or a current respiratory illness, you may notice an increased severity in your symptoms. For example, people with asthma might be at a higher risk for asthma attacks due to SBS.

It’s also important to note that SBS affects everyone differently. While everyone who spends time in a particular space might go through some of the above symptoms, these can vary. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all. Others may experience symptoms after leaving the building in question — this may be due to repeated or long-term exposure.

The term “sick building syndrome” is used when the exact cause of your symptoms can’t be identified. However, there are a variety of possible causes you can ask your doctor about.

The culprits behind SBS may include:

buildings with poor ventilation, such as schools, offices, and public spaces
high levels of dust
tobacco smoke
rooms with poor lighting
outdated computer displays that cause eye strain
the presence of mold or fungus
formaldehyde (mostly found in wood furniture and floors)
asbestos
chemicals in the air from cleaning products
pesticides
carbon monoxide
ozone from the use of printers and fax machines
high levels of stress at school or work
low workplace morale
heat or low humidity
noisy work environments
insect or animal droppings

Given the variety of factors that can cause SBS, it’s difficult to pinpoint one single cause. You might be able to work with your employer to eliminate possible risk factors. This way, you can get to the source of the problem.

Diagnosing SBS involves a process of elimination. Your doctor will rule out other conditions that could mimic sick building symptoms, such as a cold, asthma, or allergies. They will also ask you about your work and home environment.

You may consider keeping a journal to record your symptoms. Write down when and where they start, as well as when they go away. Also, be as specific about your symptoms as you can.

SBS is primarily treated by alleviating symptoms while reducing your exposure to the causes of these symptoms.

Allergy medications can help alleviate itchy eyes, nose, and skin. Over-the-counter options, such as Benadryl and Zyrtec, are widely available. Asthma medications may be needed for wheezing and other breathing difficulties. These may include long-term medications, such as leukotriene modifiers or an inhaler for acute symptoms.

Some steps to treat SBS can also be taken by employers. You or your boss may consider the following:

Use cleaning products with low fumes and no fragrances.
Vacuum regularly to remove dust.
Change out air filters every couple of months (or more, if necessary).
Find the right humidity — NHS Choices recommends an optimal humidity level of 40 to 70 percent.
Get a test for possible indoor mold or fungus.
Update computer monitors and other display systems.
Change lights as needed.
Consider investing in LED or blue lights for less energy output.

The symptoms of sick building syndrome most often get better once you leave the hazardous building in question. Persistent symptoms improve once you’ve either eliminated your exposure, or when hazards inside the building are removed. In some cases, long-term exposure to poor indoor air quality can lead to lung diseases, such as asthma.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to tell if an indoor space has poor air quality factors that can make you feel sick. Still, you may be able to take preventive measures to reduce your risk of SBS.

You can help decrease your own risk factors for sick building syndrome by:

taking regular breaks outside of the building by eating lunch outdoors, for example
opening your windows to get some fresh air, if possible (you may want to avoid this during high levels of outdoor pollen, though)
giving your eyes a break by looking away from your computer
standing at your desk or walking around your office
using caution with any indoor chemicals, such as bleach and insecticides

Last medically reviewed on September 8, 2017

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Indoor air facts: Sick building syndrome. (n.d.).
epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-facts-no-4-sick-building-syndrome
Joshi SM. (2008). The sick building syndrome.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796751/
Sick building syndrome. (2014).
nhs.uk/conditions/Sick-building-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx
The inside story: A guide to indoor air quality. (n.d.).
cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality/

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Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Kristeen Cherney — Updated on September 18, 2018

Sick Building Syndrome: Testing, Treatment, and Prevention

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  - COPD
  - Depression
  - Fibromyalgia
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- Wellness Topics
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Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Kristeen Cherney — Updated on September 18, 2018

What is sick building syndrome?

SBS symptoms can affect your skin, respiratory, and neurological systems. You may mistakenly self-diagnose yourself with a cold or flu.

Among the possible symptoms are:

throat irritation
breathing difficulties
tightness in the chest
runny nose
allergy-like symptoms, such as sneezing
burning sensations in the nose
dry, itchy skin rashes
headaches
dizziness
difficulty concentrating
forgetfulness
fatigue
irritability
nausea
body aches
fever
chills

If you have allergies or a current respiratory illness, you may notice an increased severity in your symptoms. For example, people with asthma might be at a higher risk for asthma attacks due to SBS.

The term “sick building syndrome” is used when the exact cause of your symptoms can’t be identified. However, there are a variety of possible causes you can ask your doctor about.

The culprits behind SBS may include:

buildings with poor ventilation, such as schools, offices, and public spaces
high levels of dust
tobacco smoke
rooms with poor lighting
outdated computer displays that cause eye strain
the presence of mold or fungus
formaldehyde (mostly found in wood furniture and floors)
asbestos
chemicals in the air from cleaning products
pesticides
carbon monoxide
ozone from the use of printers and fax machines
high levels of stress at school or work
low workplace morale
heat or low humidity
noisy work environments
insect or animal droppings

You may consider keeping a journal to record your symptoms. Write down when and where they start, as well as when they go away. Also, be as specific about your symptoms as you can.

SBS is primarily treated by alleviating symptoms while reducing your exposure to the causes of these symptoms.

Some steps to treat SBS can also be taken by employers. You or your boss may consider the following:

Use cleaning products with low fumes and no fragrances.
Vacuum regularly to remove dust.
Change out air filters every couple of months (or more, if necessary).
Find the right humidity — NHS Choices recommends an optimal humidity level of 40 to 70 percent.
Get a test for possible indoor mold or fungus.
Update computer monitors and other display systems.
Change lights as needed.
Consider investing in LED or blue lights for less energy output.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to tell if an indoor space has poor air quality factors that can make you feel sick. Still, you may be able to take preventive measures to reduce your risk of SBS.

You can help decrease your own risk factors for sick building syndrome by:

taking regular breaks outside of the building by eating lunch outdoors, for example
opening your windows to get some fresh air, if possible (you may want to avoid this during high levels of outdoor pollen, though)
giving your eyes a break by looking away from your computer
standing at your desk or walking around your office
using caution with any indoor chemicals, such as bleach and insecticides

Last medically reviewed on September 8, 2017

How we reviewed this article:

Indoor air facts: Sick building syndrome. (n.d.).
epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-facts-no-4-sick-building-syndrome
Joshi SM. (2008). The sick building syndrome.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796751/
Sick building syndrome. (2014).
nhs.uk/conditions/Sick-building-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx
The inside story: A guide to indoor air quality. (n.d.).
cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Kristeen Cherney — Updated on September 18, 2018

Sick building syndrome: what it is and whether it can be overcome

What does buildings have to do with it

Sick building syndrome is a painful condition that a person experiences in separate rooms – for example, moving to a new apartment or changing office . The syndrome is not associated with new work colleagues or neighbors, but only with the characteristics of the building. According to Cornell University professor Alan Hedge, who has devoted several decades to the study of the syndrome, at 19The 80s in America spent a fortune trying to find out the specific cause of the disease and understand why a person feels better in some rooms and worse in others. To no avail. Then almost mass hysteria began: they blamed dust, insufficient ventilation, which was simplified by the technical requirements under the oil embargo of the 1970s, and most often mold, which can germinate in the interior walls of the room and go unnoticed. Only one thing was clear: the symptoms intensify if a person spends more time in a “sick” room, and disappear when a person leaves it. The World Health Organization adopted the term “sick building syndrome” in 1982: since then, interest in the problem in America has faded, but a new wave has captured Northern Europe. Today, the influence of the technical characteristics of a building on a person’s well-being is being studied in Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Although science has not yet completely figured out the diseased building syndrome, mycotoxins are most often blamed – harmful substances that release mold fungi: they can germinate everywhere, but are more likely to grow in rooms with high humidity. Micro draft picks up particles and spreads throughout the room.

Another dangerous thing is volatile organic compounds. And you need to be afraid not of paints and glue, but of carpets. When the US Environmental Protection Agency examined its own carpeted headquarters, experts were struck by the amount of benzene, xylene, toluene, and other substances found known as neurotoxins.

Worst of all, the building may not seem sick at all: a clean room, with snow-white walls and wooden floors, is not always as safe as it seems. And this impossibility to determine by eye the quality of ventilation and the amount of harmful substances in the air sets an ambiguity: is the building really “sick” or is the person who feels unwell in it just a hypochondriac?

What is the danger and why are they being treated for the wrong thing? Increased stress levels aren’t everything. According to one version, sick building syndrome is only one of the stages in the emergence of multiple sensitivity to chemicals and a heightened sense of smell. If we talk about workspaces, then unventilated rooms with poor ventilation reduce concentration, impair brain function and can cause cognitive impairment.

Unfortunately, Sick Building Syndrome is rarely addressed, and people can be treated for the wrong thing for years. More often than not, patients jump between doctors who can’t diagnose physiological problems and psychiatrists who think the symptoms are fake. However, some studies do note the psychological side of the syndrome (anxiety, over-demanding employers and weak support). Juha Pekkanen, head of the Department of Health at the University of Helsinki, for example, is sure that dampness and mold are not at all characteristic of northern European countries, so there is only one really serious reason for the spread of the syndrome – people’s awareness of the sick building syndrome.

Nevertheless, Finland does not ignore patients, even if it considers them imaginary: local scientists have been instructed to develop a state program to help people with this syndrome, which should include not only medical care, but also social care. People should not leave their jobs, housing and run away to the forests, driven by the fear of being in a building. In Denmark and Sweden, they are also sure that it is wrong to separate the psychological and physiological aspects of this disease: while new data on the syndrome are being sought and treatment is being developed, patients are being provided with psychological assistance.

How to stay safe

Use an air purifier

If you are in doubt about your apartment or workplace, try to start small – buy an air purifier. In almost every room there are household pollutants, whether it is ozone from printers and copiers, nitrogen dioxide that is released when a gas stove is turned on, or all the same volatile organic compounds from carpets. At the workplace in the office, you can put a “pocket” device, designed for an area of 3-4 meters, and buy a heavy-duty home – to heal the entire apartment.

To choose the right purifier, you need to multiply the volume of space by three – this is how much air the device must process. Ideally, it should have several filters – from three to five. Also, for example, Bork or Samsung have a combined option: an air cleaner-humidifier. First, the device destroys mold spores and bacteria, and then drives the air through the water filter, saturating it with moisture: humidified air is more comfortable for the skin and mucous membranes, especially in winter, when the heating is turned on.

Check the air conditioner

Before the first start-up of the air conditioner at the beginning of the season, be sure to invite the service department: a specialist will wash, clean and treat the heat exchanger, indoor and outdoor units with antibacterial agents. If you do not update the replaceable filters of the device at least once a year, then the air conditioner turns from a useful thing into a carrier of bacteria and molds that appear inside the device due to condensation. It is also necessary to regularly (preferably every two to three weeks) wash the air conditioner strainer in warm soapy water. The ideal option is to use an air conditioner with an air purifier function: first, the device cools the air, and then destroys dust, mold spores and bacteria.

Greening up the room

A scientific experiment has shown that in green offices, employees make decisions faster in critical situations, process information, and after all this, they sleep even more soundly. Plants humidify and purify the air, produce oxygen and substances ready to stop the growth of bacteria. Furnishing space with pots is optional: the world of sustainable design has given us living walls – vertical green structures with dozens of densely planted plants. Phytomodules are made to order, and they are usually equipped with a water purification system and automatic irrigation. The walls vary from small (for example, 60 by 60 centimeters), which can be installed even in the workplace, to three meters for the home: the cost is calculated per square meter depending on the type of plant (usually you have to choose between moss, aglaonema, chlorophytum, ficus or ivy). However, the traditional landscaping option – a dozen pots – is also possible if you have time to care for the plants.

Use natural materials

The Green Building Council in Russia was established in 2009. During this time, the Skolkovo innovation center appeared, the buildings of which, including residential areas, are being built according to international environmental standards. We do not call for quitting work and home to live and work in a “green building”. But if you plan to repair or move, pay attention to the materials. It happens that roofing material impregnated with bitumen is laid on the concrete base of the floor, and chipboard is placed on top of it. These materials contain phenol-formaldehyde resins. The higher the temperature in such a room, the higher the dose of hydrocarbons in the composition of the air: it is clear that there will be no harmful impurities in a room with natural materials. The same applies to furniture and interiors: synthetic always loses to natural. Start at least with curtains.

Ventilate the room

Morning and evening at any time of the year. The same goes for outdoor breaks. But if you want to “breathe” more and more often, this is an occasion to think and remember the catchphrase: if you have to go to another place for air, then you are suffocating where you are now.

What is sick building syndrome and where does it come from

January 16

Likbez

Health

Perhaps you feel bad in the office not only because of your colleagues or your boss.

What is Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome is the name for a group of symptoms that a person may experience when they enter a room. Moreover, as soon as he leaves this place, all signs disappear. Most often this happens in offices, especially in open spaces. Sometimes unpleasant sensations occur in a group of people.

Officially, there is no such disease, and some skeptics generally consider these manifestations to be psychosomatic. But the fact is that because of the syndrome, productivity is falling, and workers are more likely to take sick leave.

How Sick Building Syndrome manifests itself

The longer you stay in the building, the more pronounced the following symptoms will be:

headache;
dizziness;
nausea;
eye irritation;
irritation of the nose or throat, dry cough;
dry or itchy skin;
difficulty concentrating;
fatigue;
odor sensitivity;
hoarseness;
worsening of allergy symptoms;
influenza-like manifestations;
increased frequency of asthma attacks;
worsening of the psychological state.

If these signs occur when you are in different places, it is not Sick Building Syndrome.

What causes Sick Building Syndrome

It is not known exactly why this condition develops, but there are several theories.

Emission

Especially when using displays for more than seven hours. There is no clear understanding of how radiation can provoke sick building syndrome. Perhaps the fact is that it ionizes dust particles, which then settle on the face.

Paper handling

Offices with a lot of paper or paper shredders are more likely to experience symptoms. Most likely, this is due to paint particles and dense fibers that are released when the sheet is destroyed.

Cigarette smoke

Non-smokers who work with smokers are more likely to develop this syndrome than those who sit in smoke-free areas.

Ventilation rate

Any materials, furniture, appliances can release some substances into the air. Good ventilation dilutes the stale atmosphere of the room, so it is much easier to stay in such buildings.

Temperature

If your home or office is also fighting for the air conditioner remote control, here’s an argument in favor of those who are hot: at temperatures above 23 ° C, the symptoms of sick building syndrome intensify.

Humidity

Low humidity is also bad, because it is difficult to stay in a room with dry air, and too high, because it provokes the growth of mold and bacteria.

Dust

Poor cleaning, overcrowding, improperly arranged furniture – these are all causes of more dust, which also increases the symptoms.

Psychological factors

Sick building syndrome is thought to be more common in women. Also, people in low positions are more susceptible to it. Perhaps this is due to the fact that management usually has improved working conditions, such as separate offices with windows and so on.

What is not Sick Building Syndrome

Any condition that has a clear cause and does not improve after the person leaves the building.

Infections

Especially if there is standing water somewhere in the building, for example under pipes, in ventilation, in basements. Then bacteria and molds multiply in it, which can provoke various diseases. And legionella can live in air conditioners, which cause “legionnaires’ disease”, that is, one of the atypical forms of pneumonia. Also, pathogens are found in rat and bird droppings.

Chemical poisoning

Poorly positioned windows or vents can introduce combustion products, exhaust fumes, and lead paint particles from the highway or from the nearest garage. And if there is a production nearby – asbestos, formaldehyde, industrial solvents and other toxic substances.

How to relieve sick building syndrome

There is not much you can do on your own, but even these measures can greatly improve the situation:

Ventilate the room more often.
Maintain air temperature around 18°C or slightly above but definitely below 23°C.

Cause of sick building syndrome: Sick building syndrome – NHS

Sick Building Syndrome: Testing, Treatment, and Prevention

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Sick Building Syndrome: Testing, Treatment, and Prevention

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Sick building syndrome: what it is and whether it can be overcome

What is sick building syndrome and where does it come from

What is Sick Building Syndrome

How Sick Building Syndrome manifests itself

What causes Sick Building Syndrome

Emission

Paper handling

Cigarette smoke

Ventilation rate

Temperature

Humidity

Dust

Psychological factors

What is not Sick Building Syndrome

Infections

Chemical poisoning

How to relieve sick building syndrome

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