What is Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which people develop symptoms of illness or become infected with chronic disease in the building in which they work or reside. In scientific literature, SBS is also known as building-related illness (BRI), building-related symptoms (BRS), or idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI).

It describes situations in which building occupants (work or home environment) experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone or may be widespread throughout the building.

In contrast, the term "building related illness" is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

Workplace

Excessive work stress or dissatisfaction, poor interpersonal relationships and poor communication are often seen to be associated with SBS, recent studies show that a combination of environmental sensitivity and stress can greatly contribute to sick building syndrome.

Home

Sick building syndrome can be caused by one's home. Laminate flooring may release more SBS-causing chemicals than do stone, tile, and concrete floors. Recent redecorating and new furnishings within the last year are associated with increased symptoms; so are dampness, water intrusion issues (i.e. basement, crawl space, attic) and related factors, having pets, and cockroaches.

What are the symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome?

Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors. They also may suffer from chest tightness; fever, chills, and muscle aches.

Often, the cause of the symptoms is not known. most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building. Others may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.

What causes Sick Building Syndrome?

The outbreaks may or may not be a direct result of inadequate or inappropriate cleaning. SBS has also been used to describe staff concerns in post-war buildings with faulty building aerodynamics, construction materials, construction process, and maintenance. Some symptoms tend to increase in severity with the time people spend in the building, often improving or even disappearing when people are away from the building. The term SBS is also used interchangeably with "building related illness symptoms ," which orients the name of the condition around patients' symptoms rather than a "sick" building.

The following have been cited causes of or contributing factors to sick building syndrome:

Inadequate Ventilation
Chemical Contaminants for Indoor Sources
Chemical Contaminants from Outdoor Sources
Biological Contaminants (Mold & Bacteria)

Attempts have been made to connect sick building syndrome to various causes, such as contaminants produced by outgassing some building materials, volatile organic compounds (VOC), improper exhaust ventilation ozone (produced by the operation of some office machines), light industrial chemicals used within, and insufficient fresh-air intake or air filtration. Sick building syndrome has also been attributed to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, an attribution about which there are inconsistent findings.

Ask the Experts at OEHS about your Sick Building

OEHS can provide experts to identify the issues associated with SBS. While sick building syndrome (SBS) encompasses a multitude of non-specific symptoms, building-related illness (BRI) comprises specific, diagnosable symptoms caused by certain agents (chemicals, bacteria, fungi, etc.). These can typically be identified, measured, and quantified. There are usually four causal agents in BRI: immunologic, infectious, toxic, and irritant. For instance, Legionnaire’s Disease, usually caused by Legionella pneumophila, involves a specific organism which could be ascertained through clinical findings as the source of contamination within a building.

Sick Building Syndrome