Sick building syndrome
Sick Building Syndrome
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) (/sɪk 'bɪldɪŋ 'sɪndroʊm/), is a medical condition where people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or feel unwell for no apparent reason. The symptoms tend to increase in severity with the time people spend in the building, and improve over time or even disappear when people are away from the building.
Etymology
The term "Sick Building Syndrome" was coined in the 1970s by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe incidents of occupational health where workers exhibited acute health effects linked to time spent in buildings, but no specific illness or cause could be identified.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome may include headaches, dizziness, chronic fatigue, nausea, irritation (of eye, nose, throat, or skin), difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to odors, allergies, cold, flu-like symptoms, increased incidence of asthma attacks and personality changes. The cause of the symptoms is often attributed to inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor or outdoor sources, and biological contaminants.
Causes
The exact cause of Sick Building Syndrome is unknown, but it is believed to be related to poor indoor air quality, inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor or outdoor sources, and biological contaminants. Other factors such as psychological stress of work, poor lighting or noise may also contribute to the syndrome.
Treatment
Treatment of Sick Building Syndrome usually involves eliminating the source of the contaminants or improving ventilation. In some cases, individuals may need to leave the affected building or area until the problem is fixed.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sick building syndrome
- Wikipedia's article - Sick building syndrome
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