Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome

People who work in office buildings, from cleaning staff to CEOs are not immune to occupational lung diseases. When a substantial number of building occupants experience symptoms that do not fit the pattern of any particular illness and are difficult to trace to any specific source, the problem may be “sick building syndrome.” Sick building problems may arise because of poorly designed or maintained heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, office equipment, furniture and supplies and operations in the building.

To save rising energy costs, new buildings are tightly sealed and modern ventilation systems recycle a large portion of inside air. If the system is not carefully designed or maintained, fresh air may not reach the worker. For example, use of flexible office partitions in large open spaces can interferewith air distribution. Energy costs in older buildings are reduced by adding insulation, caulking and weather-stripping. Windows are made air-tight and outside air dampers are closed.

Whether a building is old or new, the same recirculated air is breathed again and again by the people working in these buildings. The problem is made worse by increasing numbers and varieties of pollutants from furnishings, HVAC systems, modern office equipment and supplies, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and secondhand tobacco smoke. In fact, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease poorly ventilated office spaces aid in the transmission of pneumonia to three million people annually.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), improving buildings and indoor environments could reduce healthcare costs and sick leave and increase worker performance, resulting in an estimated productivity gain of $30 billion to $150 billion annually. The DOE further estimated the potential decrease in adverse health effects from improvements in indoor environments to be 10 percent to 30 percent for infectious lung disease, allergies and asthma; and 20 percent to 50 percent for Sick Building Syndrome symptoms.

For the United States, the corresponding annual healthcare savings plus productivity gains are:
- $6 billion to $19 billion from reduced lung disease,
- $1 billion to $4 billion from reduced allergies and asthma,
- $10 billion to $20 billion from reduced Sick Building Syndrome symptoms,

- $12 billion to $125 billion from direct improvements in worker performance unrelated to health

American Lung Association