Building Ailments: Signs and Roots
Common Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention Strategies for Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
In 1983, the World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS), a common problem in indoor environments that is often difficult to diagnose due to the lack of identifiable causes. SBS can cause a wide range of symptoms, affecting the health and comfort of building occupants.
Causes:
The primary cause of SBS is poor indoor air quality (IAQ) caused by inadequate ventilation or air-conditioning systems that lack proper humidification. Other factors contributing to SBS include the presence of mold, dust mites, chemical pollutants, and mycotoxins released from building materials or cleaning chemicals. Moisture sources such as roof leaks, plumbing leaks, condensation, damp basements, steam, humidifiers, and poor appliance ventilation also promote mold growth and degrade air quality.
Symptoms:
Symptoms tend to arise during time spent inside the building and improve upon leaving it. Common symptoms include headaches, dry, itchy, or irritated eyes, nasal congestion, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, chest tightness, respiratory discomfort, dry, itchy skin, general discomfort, psychological stress, and fever or chills.
Prevention Strategies:
To prevent SBS, it is essential to improve ventilation and air circulation, control humidity levels, and conduct professional air quality testing. Regular maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems are crucial to reduce mold and pollutants. It is also important to replace or clean carpets, ceiling tiles, and other materials that harbor mold spores and dust. Limiting the use of harsh chemicals indoors and ensuring proper ventilation when using cleaning agents or paints is also recommended.
In addition, prompt repair of leaks, proper drainage, and drying of wet materials can help reduce dampness. Improving workplace ergonomics, lighting, and noise control can also help reduce psychological stress related to SBS symptoms. Maintaining an indoor temperature between 67-76°F (19-24°C) and a relative humidity rate of 40-60% is a potential treatment for SBS.
At home, people can use indoor air quality monitors, thermostats, damp meters, and other devices to assess levels of air quality, temperature, and humidity. Building occupants can also contribute to a healthy indoor environment through daily practices, such as opening windows, using nontoxic and low VOC cleaning products, and ventilating rooms after activities that pollute the air.
In the design and construction of buildings, property developers and architects should consider the effect that layout, lighting, ventilation, and materials will have on the people inside. People responsible for maintaining buildings should keep on top of tasks that affect the health of occupants, such as installing ventilation devices, regularly cleaning and maintaining HVAC systems, and using nontoxic and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) products.
Providing education and awareness to building occupants about healthy indoor practices is also a potential treatment for SBS. Identifying and remedying sources of indoor air pollution is also crucial in managing the environmental factors contributing to SBS and reducing symptoms among building occupants. Potential contributing factors to SBS include low indoor air quality, inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants, physical factors, high humidity levels, inadequate or inconsistent temperature control, insufficient natural light or exposure to artificial lighting, presence of insects and rodents, and use of pesticides and raticides.
In conclusion, SBS is a collection of symptoms people can experience inside certain buildings. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies of SBS, building occupants and property managers can work together to create a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment.
- Science can help in the investigation of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) by identifying the causes and contributing factors, such as mold, poor indoor air quality, and other occupational health hazards.
- Improving workplace wellness and mental health is vital in managing SBS symptoms, as psychological stress can be a result of discomfort and unfavorable environmental conditions in the workplace.
- Health and wellness can be enhanced by implementing strategies like regular air quality testing, proper maintenance of HVAC systems, using low VOC products, and practicing daily healthy habits in the workplace, such as ventilating rooms and using natural light where possible.
