Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Related Risk Factors for Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) at the Office and Home: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The comfort and productivity of workers may be affected differently by the indoor air quality (IAQ) and related risk factors at the office and at home. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is one of the health issues usually faced by workers. SBS is generally associated with the time spent in a building, IAQ, and other related risk factors. The study reviewed papers published in journal articles and conferences regarding IAQ, environmental risk factors and SBS in the last ten years. The review employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 items from two significant databases, Scopus and Web of Science. The review steps involved identification, screening, eligibility, data extraction and analysis. The study found that air quality in a building significantly influences work productivity and may contribute to SBS. Findings show that SBS symptoms are linked to various personal characteristics, sociodemographic, working environment and IAQ factors. The physical contaminants, chemical contaminants and ventilation rate have established relations with SBS symptoms. These findings can help to form interventions aiming to improve IAQ and the productivity of occupants.

The Impact of Sick Building Syndrome and Physical Air Quality on Staff Productivity in the Hospital's Outpatient Room of Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Haji Indonesia

“…Individual factors such as female gender, history of allergies, and emotional stress associated with work contribute to sickbuilding syndrome starting to manifest (10,(16)(17)19). The study's findings show that the physical quality of the room that meets the standards will not result in employee health complaints, especially sick building syndrome (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). The data were collected in the period February-April 2019 Slovenian General Hospital shows that there is a relationship between indoor environmental quality and SBS symptoms so It is inconsistent with the study's findings (13).…”

“…The study in Building D of the Provincial Governor's Office, West Sulawesi, also shows a relationship between SBS risk factors and the impact of increased ventilation on SBS and productivity (20). The study conducted during winter from the first of February to the end of March 2022 in the secondlargest city in Jordan, Al-Zarqa, found a moderately favorable association between TVOC pollutants and the frequency of symptoms associated with sick-building syndrome in occupants (21). The research analyzes bibliometric data to systematically arrange the knowledge development of SBS.…”

“…So if the humidity is high, it is at risk of increasing health problems in outpatient employees of RSUD Haji Indonesia, especially Sick Building Syndrome. Research conducted during the winter, from the first of February to the end of March 2022, in Al-Zarqa, Jordan, implies that the incidence of sick building syndrome is influenced by factors related to indoor air quality (IAQ) (21). The published literature has identified five housing factors: house type, age, floor level, housing quality, household composition, environment, and green open space that impact the population's mental health outcomes.…”

Effect of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System on Indoor Air Quality in a Medical Facility

“…The first scenario is called Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS develops when building occupants exhibit symptoms that cannot be linked to a specific exposure inside the building (Aziz et al, 2023). Building occupants frequently experience symptoms that do not match any known disease and are difficult to trace (Licina & Yildrim, 2019).…”

People-plant Interaction: Plant Impact on Humans and Environment

“…Fernandes, A. et al (2023), plants have been proven to enhance indoor air quality, minimize sick building syndrome symptoms, and promote productivity and well-being in workplaces and other public spaces; plants have also been demonstrated to lower levels of air pollution and improve respiratory health in metropolitan environments(Aziz, N. et al 2023, Kiyan, A., et al, 2023.…”