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Originally published in Directions Magazine; March/April 1996
Sick Building Syndrome & Building Related Illness
by Paul E.R. Packbier
Comedian Milton Berle told a joke in the early 1960s about a New York City office worker who opened all of the windows in his office so that he could get cross-pollution ventilation. The irony of this joke is that back then it was assumed that air is worse outside than indoors. Today, it is not only almost impossible to find an office where windows can be opened, but in many cases the concentration of pollutants indoors may be 2 - 5 times and some times 100 times higher indoors than outdoors.
Indoor Air Quality
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 30 percent of all buildings have an indoor air quality problem. Since we spend over 90 percent of our time indoors, it is important to understand how the indoor environment may affect us and what to do if it affects us adversely. The Environmental Protection Agency and its Scientific Advisory Board have ranked indoor air quality among the top five environmental health risks to the public.
Fresh Air Make Up
Rising energy costs over the years have made us experts in insulating our homes and work environments to trap heated or cooled air in our living areas. Comparable to running your car’s air-conditioning system on "re-circulate" to maximize the cooling effect, building air-conditioning systems also re-circulate cooled air for best efficiency. Common sense dictates that a certain amount of air in a hermetically sealed building needs to be exchanged with "fresh" air, if for nothing else but to replenish depleted oxygen. It is up to a building owner or manager to determine the best "make-up" ratio that provides for a comfortable working environment and the most efficient energy consumption.
Indoor Air Contaminants
Much research has been focused on a whole host of indoor air contaminants in the office building as well as in our homes and schools. Asbestos, formaldehyde, radon, bacteria, fungi, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulates, nitrogen oxides, ozone, fiberglass, tobacco smoke, temperature, humidity and poor ventilation top the list. Any of these environmental stressors may be a cause of indoor air quality problems. These problems may be characterized as Sick Building Syndrome and/or Building Related Illness. A building can be characterized as "sick" when:
- A substantial percentage (>20%) of building occupants complain of such symptoms as headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odor.
- The cause of the symptoms is not known.
- Most complainants report relief after leaving the building.
Building Related Illness is a more severe condition which usually affects a relatively small percentage of a building’s occupants and can also be caused by poor air quality. This term is also used when the causative agent or condition has been identified.
Causes of Sick Building Syndrome
There are a wide variety of contaminants and causes for Sick Building Syndrome and indoor air pollution. An environmental hygienist or indoor air quality specialist will usually evaluate the following areas:
- Inadequate ventilation caused by insufficient fresh air intake, poor distribution (air-conditioning system not balanced), or stratification of air (improper mixing of air in work areas).
- Pollutants emitted from sources in the building such as adhesives, paints, carpeting, wood products, copy machines, synthetic fabrics and plastics, pesticides, cleaning agents, biological effluents (human or otherwise), and tobacco smoke.
- Contaminated outside air that might be brought in the building.
- Biological contamination by fungi, yeast, bacteria, viruses, pollen and other organisms that may be thriving in a building’s air-conditioning system or other local "hot spots" (water damaged ceiling tiles or carpeting).
Solutions
In addition to having an indoor air quality specialist evaluate your building and its air-conditioning system, some steps can be taken to remedy or prevent air quality problems. Have the building's air-conditioning system serviced and increase ventilation rates, if necessary. Remove or modify potential sources of indoor pollutants. If a pollutant source must be released (e.g. painting, exterminating) do so during weekend or non-working hours when the fewest people will be affected. Appropriate air filtration and purification processes can augment preventive measures. Building occupants, management and maintenance personnel should be educated about the sources and effects of indoor pollutants so that they can contribute to reducing them. Janitorial services should be capable of removing the maximum amount of pollutants from carpeting and other surfaces. Cleaning agents, equipment and methods should not contaminate the indoor environment. Have your building's air quality monitored regularly to identify potential problems before they become serious.
Working Environment
Why is it in a company’s best interest to evaluate the indoor environment and provide "clean air" for its employees? Good indoor air quality contributes to a favorable working environment for employees, productivity for staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being. These elements combine to assist a company in its core mission of being profitable.
