The Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in Office Workers. A Case-Referent Study of Personal, Psychosocial and Building-Related Risk Indicators

Abstract

The rate response relationship between actually measured ventilation rates and the prevalence of perceived SBS symptoms presents strong evidence for the association between IAQ factors and health.

Atopy, symptoms and indoor environmental perceptions, tear film stability, nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in university staff

“…This Table 4 In a study of 173 university employees, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for symptoms and complaints on environmental perceptions (weekly and sometimes versus never) when using diVerent "atopy markers" (Phadiatop pos, serum total IgE¸100 kU/l, allergy in family, ever asthma, ever hay fever, ever eczema) keeping age, gender, current smoking, and number of days with respiratory infections last month in the models; odds ratios (OR) and conWdence intervals is consistent with a recent Wnding in Norway that indoor climate at the workplace was stated as the most frequent provoking factor among employees 18-55 years, who had been on sick leave >16 days due to asthma in the years (Leira et al 2006. This might also be consistent with Wndings of association between SBS and atopy deWned as past or present asthma, hay fever or atopic dermatitis (Stenberg et al 1994). Also "atopic manifestations" (any prior history of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma) was associated with SBS (Jaakkola et al 1991).…”

Medical and social prognoses of non-specific building-related symptoms (Sick Building Syndrome): a follow-up study of patients previously referred to hospital

“…Our own previous research (Stenberg et al 1994) and clinical experience suggest that it is not the case. We have suggested that the association between SBS and atopic disease might be due to an artefact.…”

Exposure to Gene-Environment Interactions before 1 Year of Age May Favor the Development of Atopic Dermatitis

“…With regard to moving into a newly built house, studies in Japan have recently identified chemical substances emitted from indoor building materials, such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds as major causes of sick building syndrome [28,29]. These chemicals may thus increase the risk of allergic disease [30] and several studies reported a correlation between AD and sick building syndrome [31,32]. …”