Beware of Sick Building Syndrome

Sept. 23, 1999
With today (Sept. 23) being the first day of autumn, it's not too early to be concerned about heating systems and indoor air quality. Anyone who breathes air inside a building is susceptible to the Sick Building Syndrome.

With today (Sept. 23) being the first day of autumn, it's not too early to be concerned about heating systems and indoor air quality. Anyone who breathes air inside a building is susceptible to the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

SBS is a building-related illness that can affect a person's respiratory tract. This recently recognized phenomenon may arise because of improperly designed or maintained heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; office equipment, furniture and supplies; and building operations.

To save energy costs, new buildings are tightly sealed, and modern ventilation systems recycle a large portion of inside air. Fresh air may not reach a worker, such as when flexible office partitions interfere with air flow. The problem is made worse by pollutants from furnishings, HVAC systems, modern office equipment, supplies and other sources.

Symptoms of SBS include a stuffy nose, sneezing, a dry cough, tightness of the chest, a sore throat, fatigue, a headache, nausea, skin irritation and burning, itching eyes. Because these symptoms may be a result of a variety of causes, it's hard to pinpoint that they may be the result of SBS. Finding causes of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems is half the battle.

"Indoor air quality problems are very common in the workplace," said Dr. Nachman Brautbar, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Southern California. "For an appropriate diagnosis of the problems associated with sick buildings, one must do an environmental analysis that should include a certified industrial hygienist and ventilation expert."

The Penn Air Group, a national company that provides a range of services that includes balancing and testing indoor air, advocates a multidisciplined approach to solving problems of building-related illnesses. Companies can take six steps to better indoor air quality:

  • Consult with management on the nature of any current or past IAQ problems;
  • Monitor levels of carbon dioxide, the temperature and relative humidity at three selected locations inside the building by using sensors and data loggers to take continuous readings over the course of a business day;
  • Visually inspect major portions of air ducts by means such as fiber-optic technology;
  • Physically inspect the air-handling unit to assess the cleanliness and condition of the unit, including the effectiveness of the filtration system;
  • Take a pressure profile of the air-handling unit to help determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the system; and
  • Inspect the building for possible sources of pollutants inside and outside using an extensive checklist of potential IAQ causes.

For more information, contact the Penn Air Group at (714) 220-9091. Additional background information on SBS is available from the American Lung Association at www.lunguse.org/air/envindoorpro.html#symptoms.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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