Office workers' sick building syndrome and indoor carbon dioxide concentrations.

Abstract

This study attempted to determine whether any association exists between sick building syndrome (SBS) and indoor carbon dioxide (CO(2)) concentrations. We evaluated SBS among 111 office workers in August and November 2003. The environmental conditions in the office, including CO(2) concentrations, temperature, relative humidity, and fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)), were continuously monitored. The most prevalent symptoms of the five SBS groups were eye irritation and nonspecific and upper respiratory symptoms. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) models show that workers exposed to indoor CO(2) levels greater than 800 ppm were likely to report more eye irritation or upper respiratory symptoms.

• Authors: Dai-Hua Tsai, Jia-Shiang Lin, Chang-Chuan Chan
• Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene (J Occup Environ Hyg) Vol. 9 Issue 5 Pg. 345-51 ( 2012) ISSN: 1545-9632 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22530709 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Particulate Matter
• Carbon Dioxide

Topics

• Adult
• Air Pollution, Indoor (adverse effects, analysis)
• Asthenopia (etiology)
• Carbon Dioxide (adverse effects, analysis)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Cough (etiology)
• Environmental Monitoring
• Female
• Humans
• Humidity
• Male
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, analysis)
• Particulate Matter (analysis)
• Pharyngitis (etiology)
• Sex Factors
• Sick Building Syndrome (chemically induced)
• Sneezing
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Temperature