An update on sick building syndrome

Norbäck, Dan

doi:10.1097/aci.0b013e32831f8f08

Cited by 173 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…This is particularly relevant to those occupants who are continuously exposed to sick environments (i.e. employees or pupils) Lan et al 2011;Norbäck 2009;Wargocki et al 2000). The predominant exposure of SBSs can potentially compel the occupants to have lower performance compared to their usual productivity (ClementsCroome 2018; Lan et al 2011;Runeson-Broberg and Norbäck 2013;Tsai, Lin, and Chan 2012;Wargocki et al 2000) and schools Zhang et al 2011aZhang et al , 2011b.…”

Section: Productivity and Associated Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

AlWaer

Omrany

Ghaffarianhoseini

et al. 2018

Architectural Science Review

174

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Health and well-being are vitally important aspects of people centric building design and are the roots of productivity. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a collection of factors that can negatively affect physical health in several ways. Besides physical health is also related to psychological well-being because the human body is one interactive biological system. This paper focuses on reviewing the current state of knowledge on building sickness syndrome which has been prevalent as a building illness since the 1970s especially in offices and schools. While the concepts of intelligent, smart and sustainable buildings have gained considerable attention during recent decades, there is now increasing attention being given to designing healthy buildings. This study provides a review about SBS symptoms. Several negative effects of SBS are identified and potential solutions are advocated. Finally, the study stresses the role of built environment and concludes that ongoing research towards tackling SBS and developing healthy indoor environments should not be limited to a single formula as any health-related building design approach is dependent on several interacting factors. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Productivity and Associated Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

AlWaer

Omrany

Ghaffarianhoseini

et al. 2018

Architectural Science Review

174

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“…The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS), was first coined in the 1970s. SBS-related symptoms comprises various symptoms ranging from specific symptoms such as itchy eyes, skin rashes, and nasal allergy symptoms, to more vague symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains, and sensitivity to odors (Redlich et al, 1997;Norbäck, 2009). The parameters typically evaluated in previous studies include temperature, humidity, bacteria, fungi, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde (Wolkoff et al, 2006;World Health Organization, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome-Related Symptoms among Hospital Workers in Confined and Open Working Spaces

Chang

Yang

Wang

et al. 2015

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Despite providing health care to others every day, people who work in a hospital are usually ignored about their healthy issue. This study is aimed to investigate the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS)-related symptoms among hospital workers. All participants in this study completed questionnaires during the year 2013. Indoor air pollutants, Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ), particulate matter (PM) and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as bacteria and fungi concentrations were recorded during sampling. Associations between SBS-related symptoms, individual characteristics, and chemical concentrations were evaluated by multiple linear regression. About 84% of the subjects suffered from at least one SBS-related symptom, among which the most frequently reported symptom was nasal symptoms, accounting for 66%. Chemicals such as CO 2 , PM, VOCs tended to be significantly associated with SBS-related symptoms. There are various effects depending on the type of chemicals present and whether the working spaces are open or confined.

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“…The sick building syndrome (SBS) was defined by a WHO working group and include eye, nose and throat and facial skin symptoms, as well as headache, fatigue and nausea (WHO, 1983). Poor ventilation, volatile organic compounds (VOC), building dampness and mould can be associated with symptoms included in the SBS (Apter et al, 1994;Hodgson, 1995;Redlich et al, 1997;Norbäck, 2009;WHO, 2009;Sahlberg et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue

Norbäck

Hashim

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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• Xylene, formaldehyde and NO 2 in schools in Malaysia can be associated with fatigue among students.• Formaldehyde and NO 2 in the classrooms can be associated with ocular symptoms.• The indoor and outdoor levels of benzene were often above the EU standard for ambient air. This paper studied associations between volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in schools in Malaysia and rhinitis, ocular, nasal and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue among students. Pupils from eight randomly selected junior high schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia (N = 462), participated (96%). VOC, formaldehyde and NO 2 were measured by diffusion sampling (one week) and VOC also by pumped air sampling during class. Associations were calculated by multi-level logistic regression adjusting for personal factors, the home environment and microbial compounds in the school dust. The prevalence of weekly rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms were 18.8%, 11.6%, 15.6%, and 11.1%, respectively. Totally 20.6% had weekly headache and 22.1% fatigue. Indoor CO 2 were low (range 380-690 ppm). Indoor median NO 2 and formaldehyde concentrations over one week were 23 μg/m 3 and 2.0 μg/m G R A P H I C A L A B S T R A C T a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Contents lists available at ScienceDirectScience of the Total Environment j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / s c i t o t e n v in schools can be risk factors for ocular and throat symptoms and fatigue among students in Malaysia. The indoor and outdoor levels of benzene were often higher than the EU standard of 5 μg/m 3 .

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An update on sick building syndrome

Cited by 173 publications

References 42 publications

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

Prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome-Related Symptoms among Hospital Workers in Confined and Open Working Spaces

Volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue

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