Sick Building Syndrome: Poor Air Quality at Work

Most jobs today are conducted indoors, and many of them in offices. Comfort and health are paramount in one of the activities that take up most of our time in our daily lives. However, nearly half of Spaniards who work in front of a computer suffer problems from what is known as Sick Building Syndrome. A condition that affects buildings, but the repercussions are paid by the workers.

If your job is at a computer in a closed environment and you suffer from headaches, conjunctivitis, skin problems, or simply find it very hard to concentrate, you may be suffering from the consequences of Sick Building Syndrome. A disorder that, according to the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia, affects between 50% and 60% of Spanish office workers. What’s the solution? Basically, improve the air we breathe, the air conditioning, sunlight, and other factors such as the posture in which we sit.

First of all, how can we define Sick Building Syndrome? Following the definition provided by the World Health Organization, it refers to a set of "illnesses caused or stimulated by indoor air pollution." According to the WHO itself, sick buildings tend to have similar issues: poor ventilation, imprecise air intakes, poorly built structures, carpets and curtains with fabrics that trap dust, or simply those places whose windows do not open but also do not eliminate the low-quality air.

One of the simplest ways to detect that there are problems in an office is to analyze the ambient heat and cold. If in summer it is necessary to wear warm clothing because the air conditioning equipment creates too much cold, or if in winter it is too warm due to the heating, we are undoubtedly in a wrong situation that could lead to comfort and health problems.

We could summarize the main causes of the appearance of Sick Building Syndrome with the following:

• Indoor pollution. If fumes are created or chemical products are used in cleaning, the environment will get dirty and generate pollution.
• Odors. Bad smells indicate poor air quality, which can be harmful to health.
• Electromagnetic Fields. It is important to take into account the electronic installations for this.
• Poor lighting. It is essential that sunlight penetrates the inside of the building and that there is neither dim light nor an excess of artificial light at night.
• Noise. Noise pollution can also be a problem within the office.
• High temperature in winter. Artificial heat causes discomfort and headaches, as well as feelings of confusion.
• Inadequate air renewal. This is the most important element; we cannot overlook air renewal and eliminate the stale air from offices.
• Low or high relative humidity percentage. The amount of water vapor in the air negatively influences our well-being.
• Insufficient ventilation. A mechanical ventilation system can resolve most problems in sick offices.

It is important to be aware of all these problems in offices to enjoy a healthy and comfortable environment.

The problems that Sick Building Syndrome can cause

Many think that some companies may not take Sick Building Syndrome into account because they imagine it does not directly affect them, but nothing is further from the truth. A sick building decreases productivity and worsens work performance. The main problems arising from this condition that employees suffer include the following:

• Fatigue and a general feeling of malaise.
• Respiratory or allergy problems.
• Nasal secretions or eye pain.
• Difficulties in breathing and constant colds.
• Skin irritation or constant discomfort.
• Headaches or confusion.
• In extreme cases, nausea and great discomfort.
• Changes in the sense of taste or smell due to accumulated smoke.
• Work absences due to flu or common colds.
• Deficits in concentration and complications focusing.
• In extreme cases, depression and insomnia are two ailments that may appear.

Normally, when a cold commonly affects several people in an office, it is often due to poor ventilation or inadequate air renewal. Germs settle in closed environments where the air is not constantly renewed. That is one of the main evils of Sick Building Syndrome. If we achieve greater air renewal and opt for good ventilation, germs and bacteria disappear from the work environment. For this, it is essential to prioritize ventilation over traditional air conditioning, which is usually what is prioritized in office work environments.