Sick Building Syndrome Versus Man Flu

It occurred to me that with all the government warnings about us turning into a nation of ever expanding couch potatoes, I’ve not heard the warning about sick building syndrome for a very long time.

Laying here in my stinking pit for the third bout of, what is quite obviously a new super strength never suffered before form of debilitating man flu, made me wonder why.

Have mechanical engineers, designers and architects found some Nobel peace prize winning wonder solution. Or is it that so much of the sick building stock in the UK has been redeveloped or pulled down? Or then again, is it just a topic no longer thought important enough to warrant prime media space or time?

What’s the difference between sick building syndrome and man flu?

Firstly, it’s important to understand the situation described as sick building syndrome (SBS) and how this differs from other sicknesses such as my man flu, and what the main elements are thought to be that encourage prolonged and ever present illness.

The term ‘sick building syndrome’ (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health effects and discomfort that appear to be linked to time spent in a building. However, no specific illness can be identified. This differs significantly from the term “building related illness” (BRI), which is used to describe symptoms of diagnosable illness that are both identifiable and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants. Is this making sense or is it only logical in my poorly, thick man flu head? Have I mentioned I’m not well? Stay with me I’ll explain further.

How common is sick building syndrome?

A 1984 World Health Organisation Committee report suggested that up to 30 per cent of new and remodelled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems.

The NHS states that symptoms of sick building syndrome include:

Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Aches and pains
Fatigue (extreme tiredness)Loss of concentrationShortness of breath
Sensitivity to odours
Eye, nose and throat irritation
Skin irritation (rashes and itchy skin)

The symptoms of SBS can appear on their own or in combination and usually improve or disappear when leaving the building, unlike man flu which gets progressively worse the more I talk about it. The symptoms could be described as trivial although this is probably not the view taken by those who suffer regularly when in their place of work. The obvious side effect being increased absenteeism, poor morale and lower productivity.

What causes sick building syndrome?

Over the years experts have tried to establish exactly what causes SBS, and while it is no one element in isolation it is thought that a combination of factors may be the culprit.
Possible factors may include:

Chemical pollutants
Airborne pollutants
Poor cleanliness
Poor ventilationLow humidity
Large temperature swings
Poor lighting (high levels of glare or flicker)
Ozone produced by MFD’s and printers

First on the list of suspects are chemical contaminants. Adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, joinery elements, multifunctional devices (MFDs) and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. Research shows that some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects and some are known carcinogens. However, over the last couple of years many manufacturers have reviewed and amended their production methods and the quantity of VOCs has reduced significantly.

The second element, and one that receives more coverage, is biological contaminants. These contaminants, such as bacteria mould and viruses, may breed in stagnant water that has accumulated in ducts and collected on ceiling tiles, carpeting or insulation. Sometimes insects or bird droppings can be a source of biological contaminants too. One indoor bacterium, Legionella, causes Legionnaire’s Disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression or difficulties associated with smoking.

The air we breathe

Ventilation is a major factor in the quality of an environment. CIBSE, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Guide A: “Environmental Design” (2006) recommends an air supply rate of 10 litres/second per person. Anything less than this will create an atmosphere that makes people feel tired and lethargic. Air conditioning units that do not provide adequate amounts of fresh air can cause high levels of carbon dioxide with a build-up of stale air due to poor ventilation. Also excessive heat build-up or humidity can contribute further to air contamination. Could that be a cause of me suffering over and over again with man flu? Did I mention I’m not well?

The light side of sick building syndrome

Finally lighting. The CIBSE Code for Lighting recommends ‘a maintained luminance of 500 lux for general offices where writing, typing, reading and data processing are undertaken and also for conference and meetings rooms. Where the main task is less demanding, such as filing then a lower level of 300 lux is recommended’. Poor lighting levels contribute towards headaches, eye and muscle strain and ultimately a decrease in productivity.

It appears that the opportunity for SBS is always present but better understanding and changes by designers and manufacturers means that the level of contamination is far less than it was.

For all of you scoffing at my claim to be suffering from man flu may I direct you to a study completed in 2011 by Prof John Upham, of the University of Queensland, where researchers found that female volunteers had a ‘much stronger immune response’ to rhinoviruses than males. These are the bugs that usually cause the common cold and it is thought that hormones play a major factor in the ability to counter infection. So despite the jokes, men really are suffering. It really does exist.

Upgraded fit out and construction guidelines and more considered planning of the office environment appears to have contributed to a decline in reports of Sick Building Syndrome cases in the UK, which is fantastic. No news is good news.
My concern however, is that SBS will become the acronym instead for Sick Boy Shaun.