Report of an illness outbreak at the Harry S Truman State Office Building
- Missouri Department of Health, Jefferson City, MO (USA)
An acute epidemic of headache, mucosal irritation, fatigue, odd taste, and dizziness involving several hundred state government employees occurred in June 1986 in an office building in Missouri that housed 2,500 employees. A survey of 305 ill and 131 well employees demonstrated that ill employees were more likely to have perceived unusual odors and inadequate air flow in their work areas. The building has eight floors, seven of which are divided in half by an atrium, and 17 separate air handling systems. A total of 87% of the ill employees were concentrated in only three of the half floors. Extensive investigation revealed no toxic substances or other direct causes for the illnesses, but several factors were identified that may have reduced air quality in the affected areas. These included a low proportion of outside air, associated with crowding, blocked vents, smoking, and use of office chemicals. This pattern of illness suggests epidemic anxiety state triggered by poor air quality.
- OSTI ID:
- 5104451
- Journal Information:
- American Journal of Epidemiology; (USA), Vol. 129:3; ISSN 0002-9262
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
OFFICE BUILDINGS
AIR QUALITY
POLLUTANTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
BEHAVIOR
DISEASE INCIDENCE
ENVIRONMENT
EPIDEMIOLOGY
PERSONNEL
TOBACCO SMOKES
VENTILATION
WORKING CONDITIONS
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDS
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology