Sick Building Syndrome

• —A sickness produced by indoor pollution general & nonspecific symptoms.
  • Ex. dizziness, headaches, coughing, sneezing, nausea, burning eyes, chronic fatigue, irritability, eye/nose/throat irritation, dry skin, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, nose bleeds, flu-like symptoms.
• New buildings are more commonly “sick” than old ones because of reduced air exchange.
  • Can be solved with low-toxicity building materials & good ventilation

Building Related Illness

• Also due to exposure to indoor air pollutants —
• Recognizable Causes
• Clinically Recognized Disease
  • Examples
    • Pontiac Fever – Legionella spp. –
    • Legionnaire's Disease
    • Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis –
    • Humidifier Fever –
    • Asthma –
    • Allergy –
    • Respiratory Disease
      • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution