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Tight or sick building syndrome

Abstract

Modern buildings are designed with the usual heating, air-conditioning and ventilation equipment. In most of these buildings, air is continuously recirculated and, as a result, workers suffer from tight or sick building syndrome. This syndrome is discussed with reference to symptoms of air contamination, ventilation system standards and research needs. The most common symptoms of tight building syndrome are eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, fatigue, sneezing, difficulty in wearing contact lenses, chest tightness, nausea, dizziness and dermatitis. Symptoms experienced by 50 doctors and 50 paramedical personnel working in an air-conditioned intensive care unit and operating theatres of the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai in India were studied by means of a questionnaire survey. In the present study, respiratory and ocular symptoms were observed more in those working in operating theatres and were believed to be due to excessive use of formaldehyde used for sterilization. Various suggestions were made to prevent sick building syndrome. Moreover, the physicians treating sick individuals should be aware of the symptoms caused by indoor air pollutants as sufferers invariably require a change of environment rather than drugs. (orig.).
Authors:
Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P; Shanmuganadan, S; [1]  Uma, A [2] 
  1. Madurai Kamaraj Univ. (India). Dept. of Geography
  2. Madurai Medical Coll. (India). Dept. of Medicine and Microbiology
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1991
Product Type:
Conference
Report Number:
CONF-8911334-
Reference Number:
CHF-92-0F1316; EDB-92-124994
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Energy and Buildings; (Switzerland); Journal Volume: 16:1/2; Conference: International conference on urban climate, planning and building, Kyoto (Japan), 6-11 Nov 1989
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; BUILDINGS; AIR QUALITY; POLLUTANTS; SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS; OCCUPANTS; HEALTH HAZARDS; DAMAGE; EYES; HOSPITALS; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES; BODY; BODY AREAS; DISEASES; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; FACE; HAZARDS; HEAD; MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS; ORGANS; SENSE ORGANS; 320106* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)
OSTI ID:
5074758
Country of Origin:
Switzerland
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788; CODEN: ENEBD
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: 795-797
Announcement Date:
Sep 01, 1992

Citation Formats

Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P, Shanmuganadan, S, and Uma, A. Tight or sick building syndrome. Switzerland: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.1016/0378-7788(91)90052-5.
Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P, Shanmuganadan, S, & Uma, A. Tight or sick building syndrome. Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(91)90052-5
Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P, Shanmuganadan, S, and Uma, A. 1991. "Tight or sick building syndrome." Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(91)90052-5.
@misc{etde_5074758,
title = {Tight or sick building syndrome}
author = {Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P, Shanmuganadan, S, and Uma, A}
abstractNote = {Modern buildings are designed with the usual heating, air-conditioning and ventilation equipment. In most of these buildings, air is continuously recirculated and, as a result, workers suffer from tight or sick building syndrome. This syndrome is discussed with reference to symptoms of air contamination, ventilation system standards and research needs. The most common symptoms of tight building syndrome are eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, fatigue, sneezing, difficulty in wearing contact lenses, chest tightness, nausea, dizziness and dermatitis. Symptoms experienced by 50 doctors and 50 paramedical personnel working in an air-conditioned intensive care unit and operating theatres of the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai in India were studied by means of a questionnaire survey. In the present study, respiratory and ocular symptoms were observed more in those working in operating theatres and were believed to be due to excessive use of formaldehyde used for sterilization. Various suggestions were made to prevent sick building syndrome. Moreover, the physicians treating sick individuals should be aware of the symptoms caused by indoor air pollutants as sufferers invariably require a change of environment rather than drugs. (orig.).}
doi = {10.1016/0378-7788(91)90052-5}
journal = []
volume = {16:1/2}
place = {Switzerland}
year = {1991}
month = {Jan}
}