 |
Topics Issue 5 |
|
Topics Issue 5 |
Sick Building Syndrome is the reaction of a building's inhabitants to the accumulation of dusts, vapours, gases, fungi, bacteria and other indoor pollutants that are trapped within a structure.
The term Sick Building Syndrome therefore applies to any building in which at least 15 to 20% of its occupants exhibit headache, lethargy, eye irritation, sinus congestion, sore throats and other general upper respiratory irritation in a pattern that is linked to the building where they work. These symptoms seem to worsen as the day goes on, disappear upon departure from the building at the end of the day and reappear the following day upon return to the suspected building.
Indoor air pollution comes from a variety of sources. Although new synthetic products and plastics serve a useful purpose in the workplace, many emit dangerous fumes and vapours that poluute the air we breathe!
Activities such as copying, duplicating, smoking, cooking all add to the indoor burden. Clothing, furnishings, carpets and even people themselves contribute particles and vapour that pollute the air.
To give peace of mind to building inhabitants and Facilities Managers, we can carry out an Indoor Air Quality Assessment that involves the following types of monitoring:
