Linking indoor particulate matter and black carbon with sick building syndrome symptoms in a public office building

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in office buildings should be assessed for public health concerns as it relates to work performance and productivity. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the IAQ in a university office building. From this investigation, the level of contaminated indoor air is examined, the significant causes and contributing factors of contaminated indoor air are determined and a recommendation to improve the existing condition has been proposed. The physical parameters measured include air temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, and concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and also air particles. It was found that the number of air particles of 0.5 μm in diameter is about 197,748 particles/m3, while air particles of 5.0 μm in diameter is around 534 particles/m3. The collected data were then compared with a questionnaire and IAQ standards. In conclusion, the indoor air quality within the multi-storey central office building of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) is acceptable and suitable for occupation even though there were countable symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) among its occupants.

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Survey Research of Selected Issues the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in an Office Building

Environmental and Climate Technologies ◽

10.2478/rtuect-2019-0050 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katarzyna Gladyszewska-Fiedoruk

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Survey Research ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Well Being ◽

Office Building ◽

Exchange Method ◽

Sick Building ◽

Questionnaire Surveys

Abstract The reason why the Sick Building Syndrome appears is not enough flow of the fresh air going into the rooms. It could cause various ailments, although it is difficult to determine their source and the symptoms disappear soon after leaving the building. The paper discusses the sources of the indoor air pollution, symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome and shows the solutions how to avoid the phenomena of “sick” buildings. In addition, the results of questionnaire surveys on the well-being of employees, which were carried out in an office building in Warsaw, were presented. The vast majority of respondents in the building spend 8 hours, during which their well-being deteriorates. More than half of the respondents felt typical symptoms of the Sick Building Syndrome. To avoid the formation of “sick building” should be replaced regularly air. The exchange method is not important.

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Sick building syndrome, sensation of dryness and thermal comfort in relation to room temperature in an office building: Need for individual control of temperature

Environment International ◽

10.1016/0160-4120(89)90022-6 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 15 (1-6) ◽

pp. 163-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

J.J.K. Jaakkola ◽

O.P. Heinonen ◽

O. Seppänen

Keyword(s):

Thermal Comfort ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Office Building ◽

Individual Control ◽

Sick Building

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Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome in Post Office Building in Bandung

Current Journal: International Journal Applied Technology Research ◽

10.35313/ijatr.v2i2.53 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 136-145

Author(s):

Yudi Prana Hikmat ◽

Ismail Wellid ◽

Kasni Sumeru ◽

Salma Dzakiyah Az-zahro ◽

Mohamad Firdaus bin Sukri

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Office Building ◽

Post Office ◽

P Values ◽

Pm10 And Pm2.5 ◽

Sick Building

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a collection of symptoms experienced by buildings occupants such as headaches, mucous, membrane irritation, respiratory problems and fatigue. A building is claimed to have SBS if more than 20% of building occupants experience symptoms. Poor indoor air quality contributes to SBS in the building. This study aims to investigate the correlation between indoor air quality and SBS symptoms in 1st and 2nd floors of the Post office building in Bandung. The study used quantitative methods with a cross sectional study design. Data collection was carried out using particle counter, thermometer, lux meter and anemometer to measure the indoor air quality, while the questionnaire utilized random sampling technique with 119 respondents. The results of the primary data were compared with the air quality standard from Minister of Health No. 1077, 2021. The results of the Statically Compare Means and Independent T-test showed that the p-values of the temperature on the 1st floor and 2nd floors were 0.437 and 0.000, respectively. Meanwhile the p-values of PM10 and PM2.5 on the 1st and 2nd floors were 0.005 and 0.290 and 0.004 and 0.364, respectively, and the p-values of the lighting on the 1st and 2nd floors were 0.002 and 0.015. It indicates that there is a significant relationship between concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 on the 1st floor with SBS symptoms and the temperature and humidity on the 2nd with SBS symptoms. Since 29 peoples (24% of the building’s occupants) experienced SBS, the building was considered to have a significant potential to cause SBS to its occupant.

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Fungal colonization of fiberglass insulation in the air distribution system of a multi-story office building: VOC production and possible relationship to a sick building syndrome

Journal of Industrial Microbiology ◽

10.1007/bf01570035 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 280-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

D G Ahearn ◽

S A Crow ◽

R B Simmons ◽

D L Price ◽

J A Noble ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distribution System ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Office Building ◽

Air Distribution ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Sick Building

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Evaluation of air quality in office rooms (case study: the rector’s office building of Syiah Kuala University)

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/881/1/012032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 881 (1) ◽

pp. 012032

Author(s):

H R Farizly ◽

A Munir ◽

L H Sari ◽

Zahriah

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Student Affairs ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Extended Period ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Office Building ◽

Sick Building ◽

Physical And Chemical Quality ◽

Office Rooms ◽

Physical And Chemical

Abstract The Rector’s Office Building of Syiah Kuala University is the administrative headquarters at Syiah Kuala University which has a high density schedule. Employees in the building, work for 8 hours a day in the building. Staying in a room for an extended period of time can lead to disease, particularly Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Poor air quality as a result of air pollution and poor air exchange is the primary cause of SBS. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the air quality in the room to prevent SBS. This research was conducted with a quantitative approach by measuring the physical and chemical quality of the indoor air. The study was conducted on two sample rooms, namely the administration room and the student affairs office. The method of collecting data is descriptive by evaluating based on the regulations of the minister of health and SNI. Air quality is also seen based on the results of room simulations using ANSYS 2019 R3. Based on the results of field measurements, the air quality in the room is not good. Thus, 60% of the employees in the Administration Room and 64.71% of the employees in the Student Affairs Office were infected with SBS.

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