In 1984, the World Health Organization published a report determining the cause of sick building syndrome, in which the cumulative effects of bad ventilation, VOC offgassing, and certain building materials were found to make people who work in affected buildings sick. Main symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS) are headache, nausea and dizziness, cough, eye nose and throat irritation, and up to forty or so other possible ailments. Because the causes of SBS vary, so do their effects.

If you or a coworker have health problems that seem to be triggered by or worsened by your job or school environment, it’s probably not that you are allergic to doing your work! There might very well be something in your environment that is causing the problem. Because many buildings in use today were built in the 1970’s and 1980’s (when knowledge of indoor air quality was low, and designers considered it smart to seal a building off from outside air flow), they may have high levels of indoor air pollution. This is especially true of buildings that do not have windows that open, have old or malfunctioning HVAC units (the heating, cooling and air exchange systems), or may be infested with toxic mold. Newer buildings may also cause health difficulties in some people (or even just a remodeled floor) because of the chemicals released by new furniture, paint and carpeting.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are what create the ‘new’ smell of fresh paint, new cars, carpet and plastic furniture once it is removed from its packaging. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that many indoor areas (including homes) have VOC concentrations 10 times higher than outside air In some cases of poor ventilation, VOC’s can be 1,000 times higher. (Read more about the health effects of VOC’s on page 90). It’s not surprising that  this kind of exposure can make some people, especially those who have a compromised immune system or other illness, feel quite ill.

Your workplace or school might be a candidate for SBS if symptoms experienced inside the building are reduced once outside, during times spent away from the building, or are seasonally related.

Some 'sick buildings' can be rehabbed; potential solutions might include: replacement of insulation, removal of mold, better ventilation, or repair of HVAC systems. Buildings with endemic problems might need to be demolished.

Your Work or School Environment: Toxic or Not?

So how to determine if your school or work environment might be toxic to your health? Take this quiz:

1. Was your school or office recently renovated (think new carpets, fresh paint, or significant new furniture) in the last year or two?

2. Do you notice a distinctive smell when you walk into your place of work, such as printing toner, a plastic odor, exhaust, or another chemical-type smell that is different from the outside air?

3. After spending time in your office or classrooms, do you develop headaches, are your eyes burning, do you sneeze often, get a scratchy throat, or is your breathing more difficult?

4. Are the windows sealed off or unopenable at your workplace or school?

5. Do you work with potentially hazardous or toxic substances, chemicals or compounds?

6. Is your building more than 10 years old?

Posted on Aug 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM
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