SICK BUILDING SYNDROME AND RELATED WORKPLACE DISORDERS

It has been estimated that as many as 1.2 million commercial buildings have characteristics of sick building syndrome. That is, persons who work in these buildings describe a cluster of symptoms-irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and skin, respiratory ailments, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and unusual odor or taste sensations-that occur during occupation of the building but diminish when these persons leave these buildings. There have been a number of factors that have been implicated in the development of sick building syndrome. These include type of building ventilation, light intensity, tobacco smoke, wall-to-wall carpeting, crowding, work satisfaction, gender, and presence of volatile organic compounds. Sick building syndrome has many signs and symptoms of other workplace disorders (e.g.. neurotoxic disorders, mass psychogenic illness), each of which manifest in rather imprecise psychological and somotic symptoms. There are, however, specific characteristics that distinguish these disorders. It is likely that the development and persistence of the sick building syndrome is not caused solely by building characteristics or simply a result of psychological variables. Rather, a synergistic relationship exists between building, environmental, and individual factors.