Most
people spend 8-10 hours each day in their work
environment. Contaminants in the workplace environment
can lead to health problems which will result in high
rates of absenteeism and loss of productivity. Sick
Building Syndrome (SBS) is a common term used to
describe illness that may be linked to pollutants in the
indoor environment.
What are some common indoor
air quality problems in work place buildings?
There are a large number of contaminants that
can be found in the work place that can affect your health.
Because offices, particularly in North America, are designed
to be energy and space efficient, these problems are made
worse by lack of space, ventilation, effective air
circulation, and natural sunlight.
Some common work place indoor environmental problems are:
• General comfort factors – Factors such has temperature,
lighting, and relative humidity can affect your comfort
and productivity.
• EMF – electromagnetic waves can be a problem because
of the large number of electrical devices that are in
an office environment. Computers, electrical wiring, microwaves,
and photocopiers are all sources of electromagnetic radiation.
Electromagnetic radiation can impact your health, particularly
if you are sensitive to EMF.
• Carbon dioxide – With the large number of people that
are often expected to work in the same office space, accumulation
of carbon dioxide may be a concern. If a building does
not have adequate ventilation, the carbon dioxide that
is exhaled by individuals can build up, causing headaches,
tiredness, and irritability.
• VOCs – Volatile organic compounds are normally present
due to the use of chemical or synthetic products. Photocopiers
and printers may be sources of VOCs as may cleaning products.
New furniture, carpets or building materials may also
be sources of VOCs.
• Particulates – Particulate matter can be present from
a variety of sources including printers, photocopiers,
and dust accumulation. Particulates can exacerbate allergies,
or cause allergy-like symptoms such as itchy or watery
eyes, sore throat, runny nose, or sneezing.
How do I know if I am working in a Sick Building?
Keep a record of what your symptoms are and when they
occur. Do you feel worse in the day time or at night? Is
there a particular hour when your symptoms are the
worst? Do your symptoms clear up when you leave your
work environment?
Common symptoms of problems related to the indoor
environment include:
• Unexplained tiredness or lethargy
• Allergy-like symptoms such as itchy or watery eyes,
sneezing, or sore throat
• Asthmatic attacks
• Frequent nose bleeds
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Skin irritation or rashes
• Breathing difficulty
• Flue like symptoms
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