| Type of ventilation system in office buildings and sick building syndrome. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 7709918 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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To examine the role of types of building ventilation in office buildings as a determinant of ocular, nasopharyngeal, skin, and general symptoms often denoted as the sick building syndrome, a cross-sectional study was carried out in March 1991 on 2,678 workers from 41 office buildings selected randomly from the Helsinki metropolitan area. The ventilation type and other characteristics of these buildings were recorded on a site visit, and a questionnaire directed to workers inquired about the symptoms, perceived air quality, and possible personal and environmental determinants (response rate, 81%). The outcomes were weekly work-related symptoms experienced during the previous 12 months and symptom groups defined either by their anatomic location or hypothesized mechanism. In logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders, simple mechanical ventilation (mechanical supply and exhaust ducts) was related to a higher risk of ocular symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-2.26), nasal congestion (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 0.92-3.42) and discharge (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 0.72-2.88), pharyngeal symptoms (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.01-5.33), and lethargy (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 0.99-2.95) compared with natural ventilation. Air conditioning was related to a slightly higher risk of symptoms compared with simple mechanical ventilation (for any symptom, OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.68). Steam and evaporative humidification as well as air recirculation acted also as determinants of these symptoms. The risk of the studied symptoms is related to the type of ventilation in the existing office building stock. Future studies should explore the typical functional problems and specific causes connected with the high-risk ventilation systems. |
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Authors:
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J J Jaakkola; P Miettinen |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: American journal of epidemiology Volume: 141 ISSN: 0002-9262 ISO Abbreviation: Am. J. Epidemiol. Publication Date: 1995 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1995-05-09 Completed Date: 1995-05-09 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7910653 Medline TA: Am J Epidemiol Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 755-65 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Air Conditioning* / instrumentation, methods Air Pollution, Indoor* / statistics & numerical data Cross-Sectional Studies Female Finland Humans Humidity Male Middle Aged Odds Ratio Prevalence Ventilation / instrumentation, methods* |
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