Sick Building Syndrome | Background, Causes, and Management

The cause of the symptoms is unknown.

It lowers productivity and raises absenteeism.

The majority of complainants report relief soon after leaving the building, although lingering effects of neurotoxins can occur.

Here are some possible causative factors

1. Physical and environmental factors

• Humidity: either too high (encouraging mold formation) or too low (leading to drying of the mucous membranes).
• Excessively high temperature.
• Air conditioning is associated with microbial contamination, exotoxins produced by contaminating organisms, and biocides.
• Nuisance dust.
• Poor lighting.

2. Chemicals

• Formaldehyde → It is ubiquitous in office environments because of ‘off-gassing’ from furniture, carpet adhesive, and other fixtures made of particle board.
• Nitrogen dioxide.
• Cigarette smoke → Although smoking in public places is now illegal in the UK, passive smoking may have been a factor in the past.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) → Many are known irritants at high levels of exposure.

  Some have low odor thresholds, which contributes to the perception of poor air quality (irrespective of actual health effects).

3. Bio-aerosols

• Airborne particles containing or contaminated with bacteria, fungi, or mites.

4. Psychosocial factors

• Low control over work.
• Poor support.
• Insufficient or excessive demands.
• Low job satisfaction.