Sick Building Syndrome

An illness usually occurs by spending time in building that cannot be attributed to any other specific illness or cause. Symptoms that building occupants may come across are headache, dry cough, and fatigue. Most people with this syndrome report relief soon after leaving the building.

If illness is identified then it may be charracterised as the term "building related illness" (BRI),this term is used when symptoms of a diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.The complaints of sick building syndrome may be localized in a particular room or zone, or they may be widespread throughout the building. The excessive complaints may be due to indoor air quality (IAQ).Often, this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems.Sometimes, indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Symptoms:

Possible symptoms of sick building syndrome may include:

• Headache
• Eye, nose, or throat irritation 
• nausea 
• dry throat 
• difficulty in breathing 
• Dry cough 
• Dry or itchy skin 
• Dizziness and nausea 
• Difficulty in concentrating 
• Fatigue 
• Sensitivity to odors. 
• Symptoms of building related illness

related illness (BRI) may complain of symptoms such as:

• Cough 
• Chest tightness 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Muscle aches. 

Complainants may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.
It is important to note that complaints may result from other causes. These may include:

• An illness contracted outside the building 
• Acute sensitivity (for example, allergies) 
• Job-related stress or dissatisfaction 
• Other psychosocial factors. 

Nevertheless, studies show that symptoms may be caused or exacerbated by indoor air quality (IAQ) problems.

Causes

There are several possible causes of (or contributing factors to) sick building syndrome. These possible causes of sick building syndrome may include:

• Inadequate ventilation 
• Chemical contaminants from indoor sources 
• Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources 
• Biological contaminants. 

Inadequate Ventilation

In the early and mid-1900s, building ventilation standards called for approximately 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outside air for each building occupant, primarily to dilute and remove body odors. As a result of the 1973 oil embargo, however, national energy conservation measures called for a reduction in the amount of outdoor air provided for ventilation to 5 cfm per occupant.In many cases, these reduced outdoor air ventilation rates were found to be inadequate to maintain the health and comfort of building occupants. Inadequate ventilation, which may also occur if heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems do not effectively distribute air to people in the building, is thought to be an important factor in sick building syndrome. In an effort to achieve acceptable IAQ while minimizing energy consumption, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently revised its ventilation standard to provide a minimum of 15 cfm of outdoor air per person (20 cfm per person in office spaces). Up to 60 cfm per person may be required in some spaces (such as smoking lounges), depending on the activities that normally occur in that space

Biological Contaminants

Types of biological contaminants include:

• Bacteria 
• Molds 
• Pollen 
• Viruses. 

These contaminants may breed in stagnant water that has accumulated in ducts, humidifiers, and drain pans or where water has collected on ceiling tiles, carpeting, or insulation. Sometimes, insects or bird droppings can be a source of biological contaminants.

Physical symptoms related to biological contamination include:

• Cough 
• Chest tightness 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Muscle aches 
• Allergic responses (such as mucous membrane irritation and upper respiratory congestion). 

One indoor bacterium, Legionella, has caused both Legionnaire's disease and Pontiac fever.
These elements may act in combination and may supplement other complaints, such as inadequate temperature, humidity, or lighting. Even after a building investigation, however, the specific causes of the complaints may remain unknown.

Solutions to Sick Building Syndrome

Solutions to sick building syndrome usually include combinations of the following:

• Removing or modifying sources of pollution 
• Increasing ventilation rates 
• Air cleaning 
• Education and communication(educate patient or attendent of patient about how to minimize or eliminate the cause)