Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a combination of conditions associated with a specific building. Most people think that this syndrome only affects office buildings, which is not true. Residential housing can also have this affect on human health. The reason this condition is mostly thought of as an office-related problem, is because of additional negative health effects caused by office equipment, stress, pressure, etc.

SBS symptoms don’t identify a specific cause or illness. The problems can be localized in a particular room or spread throughout the entire building. SBS symptoms usually disappear after the sufferer leaves the building, or shortly after that.

Building Related Illness

Building Related Illness (BRI) is a similar situation to SBS, but the health problems can be clearly identified with a specific condition and pollution source. Besides, BRI sufferers usually experience stronger and longer negative effects on their health than SBS sufferers even after leaving the building.

Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illness

SBS and BRI have very similar symptoms, only BRI tends to manifest in a stronger and longer way.

SBS symptoms include: irritation of the eyes, nose, throat; dry and irritated skin; neurotoxic or general health problems; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; odor and taste sensitivity; chest tightness; cough; headache; dizziness and nausea; fatigue.

BRI symptoms include: cough; chest tightness; chills; fever; muscle aches; headache; dizziness and nausea and others.

How to find out that you have a sick building syndrome?

1. You have several, or all of the symptoms listed above
2. You experience them only in a certain area, room, office, building, and they disappear shortly after you leave that place
3. You experience them every time you enter that area
4. Your symptoms don’t point at a certain disease, or if they do, regular medicine seems not to bring any relieve

What are the causes of sick building syndrome and building related illness?

Both SBS and BRI are caused by poor indoor air quality. These are the main factors that can cause or contribute to SBS or BRI:

1. Inadequate ventilation – poorly installed HVAC systems, insufficient air exchange rates.
2. Indoor chemical contaminants – carpeting, paints, wood products, pesticides, cleaning agents, indoor smoking etc.
3. Outdoor chemical contaminants – exhaustion fumes, building exhausts, combustion products.
4. Biological contaminants – mold, pollen, bacteria, insects and others.

How to protect ourselves from SBS and BRI?

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests taking the following steps if you suspect SBS and BRI in your office or home:

1. Pollutant source removal or modification

If you can clearly figure out the reason to those symptoms, try to remove or at least decrease their negative effect to your health. To associate your pollutant type with the best air purification technology, check out our air cleaner comparison chart.

2. Increasing ventilation rates

Ensure proper regular maintenance to your HVAC system and exhaustion fans. Air your room with wide open windows. Implement UV treatment in your HVAC system to take care of biological pollutants. Install a HEPA filter into HVAC system to remove mechanical pollutants.

3. Air cleaning

Use a good air purifier to clean the air from all the pollutants. To read more about various air purifying types and technologies, go to air purifying technologies section, to find out what air purifier type is the best for you particular situation, get our free personalized air purifier report.

4. Education and communication

Another important aspect is acquiring and sharing the information about air pollution and air cleaning with all the building occupants, be it your family members or coworkers, and cooperate in trying to implement a better indoor environment.