Outdoor air pollution, meteorological conditions and indoor factors in dwellings in relation to sick building syndrome (SBS) among adults in China

Abstract

Indoor environment is associated with the sick building syndrome (SBS), but little is known about the contribution of outdoor air pollution and meteorological conditions to SBS. We studied associations between outdoor air pollution, meteorological parameters and selected indoor exposure and building characteristics at home and weekly SBS symptoms in a standardized questionnaire study among 3485 randomly selected adults in China. Outdoor factors included particulate matters with diameter <10μm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), outdoor temperature (T), relative air humidity (RH), and wind speed (WS) during last three months. Multiple logistic regression was applied calculating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Asthma or allergic rhinitis (atopy) was associated with all types of SBS symptoms except fatigue. Indoor factors played a major role in SBS symptoms. Mold/dampness on the floor/ceiling was associated with fatigue OR=1.60 (1.11-2.30) and headache OR=1.80 (1.07-3.04). Moldy odor was associated with fatigue OR=1.59 (1.07-2.37) and dermal symptoms OR=1.91 (1.21-3.02). Window pane condensation in winter was associated with fatigue OR=1.73 (1.30-2.31) and throat symptoms OR=1.53 (1.01-2.31). Damp bed clothing was related with throat symptom OR=1.62 (1.09-2.40). Home redecoration was associated with fatigue OR=1.49 (1.07-2.06). Frequent window opening was associated with less nose symptoms OR=0.54 (0.36-0.82) and mechanical ventilation in the bathroom reduced dermal symptoms OR=0.66 (0.44-0.99). Females were more susceptible to redecoration and window pane condensation than men. No associations with SBS were observed for outdoor air pollutants or meteorological parameters in the final models combining indoor and outdoor factors, although SO2, T, and RH were associated with some SBS symptoms (fatigue, eyes and nose symptoms) in the separate outdoor models. In conclusion, indoor mold/dampness, air pollution from redecoration and poorer ventilation conditions in dwellings can be risk factors for SBS symptoms in an adult Chinese population, especially among females.

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

“…eye, throat and nose irritations or coughing) and (iii) dermal symptoms (i.e. itching skin, face, hands or scalp) (Amin, Akasah, and Razzaly 2015;Lim et al 2015;Lu et al 2016;Shan et al 2016). The negative effects of SBS are interconnected, as the occurrence of one effect can lead to the manifestation of another.…”

“…Individual-related factors can be gender, history of atopy (genetic tendency towards developing allergic diseases)/allergic disorders, low status of individuals in an organization, working on more routine tasks and smoking status (Bullinger et al 1999;Lu et al 2016). Bachmann and Myers (1995) investigated the correlations between typical symptoms of SBS, musculoskeletal symptoms, psychological state, work stress and interpersonal relationships at work among 624 office workers in three buildings.…”

“…However, the prevalent complaints of SBS are more likely to be related to the ambient issues, including building dampness (Lu et al 2016;Norbäck et al 2016b). Building dampness is the presence of unwanted moisture in the building structure, which can be either the result of intrusion from outside or condensation within the structure.…”

“…Personal characteristics of individual's might amplify the effect of SBSs on occupants. To explain, gender, genetic tendency to develop allergy, smoking status and psychological state were found to be associated with SBS (Bachmann and Myers 1995;Bullinger et al 1999;Lu et al 2016). In one study, Lim et al (2015) investigated the associations between SBS symptoms, selected personal factors, office characteristics and indoor office exposures among office workers from a university in Malaysia.…”

“…In a study, Singh et al (2010) investigated the effects of improved IEQ on perceived health and productivity in occupants in office buildings. The results demonstrated that improved IEQ contributed to the reductions of absenteeism and It refers to the manifestation of illness that concern the occupants' concentration (Lim et al 2015;Lu et al 2016;Zhang et al 2012) General Nausea, dizziness, unspecified hypersensitivity reactions, deteriorating the pre-existing illnesses i.e. asthma, sinusitis or eczema.…”