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The sick-building syndrome

M Hodgson1

  • 1Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, 06030- 6105, USA.

Occupational Medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
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Sick-building syndrome is an imprecise term. Investigations should focus on identifying engineering issues and pollutant sources causing occupant complaints, rather than solely on psychosocial factors.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Building Science

Background:

  • Sick-building syndrome (SBS) is a frequently used but poorly defined term.
  • Occupant health complaints are often attributed to SBS without specific etiological identification.
  • Existing definitions lack clarity and hinder effective problem-solving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for the discontinuation of the term 'sick-building syndrome'.
  • To emphasize the importance of identifying specific engineering problems and pollutant sources.
  • To guide a more effective approach to resolving building-related health complaints.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and case studies on building-related illnesses.
  • Analysis of common factors contributing to occupant complaints in buildings.

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  • Distinguishing between identifiable environmental causes and subjective experiences.

    • Main Results:

    • The majority of cases attributed to SBS have identifiable engineering problems or pollutant sources.
    • Psychosocial factors can exacerbate symptoms but are not the primary cause in most instances.
    • Focusing on SBS distracts from addressing the root causes of complaints.

    Conclusions:

    • The term 'sick-building syndrome' should be abandoned in favor of precise identification of building-related issues.
    • Prioritizing the investigation of environmental and engineering factors is crucial for effective remediation.
    • Addressing specific pollutant sources and ventilation problems offers the most direct path to improving indoor environmental quality and occupant health.