Sick Building Syndrome from the Perspective of Occupational and Public Health

Abstract

Sick building syndrome is one of the most important occupational and public health problems today. As it’s a result of indoor air quality deficiency, this is not just a nuisance met at schools and houses, but also at workplaces as well due to the fact that employees spend nearly one thirds of their time where they have less control over the air quality. Yet no accepted definition for SBS and no agreeable theory about its origins are available. Characteristically some disturbing non-specific symptoms with no apparent cause are seen. Main characteristic of the syndrome is that the symptoms get worse while in the building and relieved once stepped out of it. Frequency of symptoms in artificially ventilated buildings is determined more than in naturally ventilated buildings, also more in public buildings than those of private sector. SBS symptoms are more frequently observed among civil servants than managers, and more frequently reported by women than men. As current risks of a person are assessed when conducting health studies, air quality of the workplace should be questioned as well. The issue should be investigated in all aspects such as epidemiological, psychosocial and biomedical. Investigation SBS needs a multidisciplinary approach that workplace specialists, medical doctors, industrial hygienists, engineers and many others should collaborate. In this chapter, SBS is reviewed from the perspective of occupational and public health.