Building-Related Illnesses and Mold-Related Conditions

Abstract

Building-related illness refers to a complex of diseases that are “causally linked to indoor environmental exposure within a building and is applied to the nonindustrial environments such as office buildings, schools, or day care centers and where the causative agent or physiologic mechanism can be identified.” This includes various specific and nonspecific conditions that are related to infectious, allergic, inflammatory, irritant, and/or nonspecific processes. The latter nonspecific type that is associated with mucous membrane complaints, headache, and difficulty concentrating is what is generally referred to as the sick building syndrome or sick house syndrome, the latter referring to private dwellings. Indoor air quality can have an impact on human health and is due to multiple factors including: moisture and microbial growth; inadequate air intake and filtration; house dust mite and mold proliferation due to high relative humidity (i.e. >50%) increasing allergen exposure load; exposure to indoor allergens from furry animals (cat, dog, mouse); exposure to particulate matter from indoor and outdoor sources; various gases (organic and carbonyl compounds); and insufficient thermal control. Older and even newer buildings can be problematic. The frequency of sick building syndrome is reviewed, taken from information from various cross-sectional and some longitudinal studies. Risk factors include: social and personal characteristics as well as the general psychosocial work environment; indoor climate and exposure (ventilation) in workplace buildings; building dampness and exposure to molds and mold-derived agents; allergens; airborne particles, volatile organic compounds, and chemical components in settled dust. Finally, the authors present some avenues to improve the indoor environment in workplace buildings.

Symptom Clusters