The prevalence of symptoms associated with sick buildings and polluted industrial environments as compared to unexposed reference groups without expressed dissatisfaction

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Environment International; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(89)90014-7· OSTI ID:6943113

Norbaeck, D; Rand, G; Michel, I ^[1]; Amcoff, S ^[2]

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1. University Hospital, Uppsala (Sweden)
2. Tierpshaelsan, Tierp (Sweden)

The prevalence of certain symptoms (eye, skin and upper airway irritation, headache, nausea and fatigue) associated with the sick building syndrome was studied among personnel exposed to sick buildings, among industrial and hospital workers exposed to irritants and among nonexposed reference groups without expressed dissatisfaction. The exposures were quantified by hygienic measurements. Both sick building personnel and industrial and hospital workers exposed to irritants in their work places exhibited a significantly enhanced symptom prevalence in comparison with the reference groups. The enhanced prevalence of many symptoms was more pronounced among personnel in the sick buildings than among the exposed workers, but the exposure levels in comparison with the occupational exposure limit values, were lower in the sick buildings than in the industrial environment. the proportion of females was higher in the sick buildings than in the reference groups, and all sick buildings were found in the public sector. The sick building groups did not differ from the reference groups with regard to other factors such as mean age, smoking habits, atopy frequency, work stress, or work satisfaction. The results indicate that modern indoor environments could be as potent as current industrial environments in inducing irritative symptoms. The enhanced prevalence of symptoms in the sick buildings could not be explained by an accumulation of sensitive individuals in certain buildings.

• OSTI ID: 6943113
• Journal Information: Environment International; (USA), Vol. 15:1-6; ISSN 0160-4120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION
EYES
HOSPITALS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
SKIN
SYMPTOMS
WOMEN
ANIMALS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BUILDINGS
FACE
FEMALES
HAZARDS
HEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
SENSE ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology