by Chelsea Padget

Created on: October 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 21, 2010

Sick building syndrome is a pseudo illness that occurs from extended exposure to inhalants in a specific building; home or commercial building. It occurs when the occupants of a building experience acute health problems that appear to be linked to time being spent in a particular building, whether it is in a home or a commercial building. This seemed to start when families and companies started to try to save energy by keeping the home or office building airtight, so that air conditioning, and heat didn't escape, therefore saving them money by becoming energy efficient and also unknowingly causing sick building syndrome by doing so. 

Sick building syndrome can cause health problems in humans and animals. Over the past 20 years in North America, evidence has accumulated implicating the fungus, named Stachybotrys chartarum, as a serious problem in water damaged homes and buildings, says Berlin Nelson, a professor at North Dakota State University and a member of the American Phytopathological Society.

Where is it found?:

The fungus is commonly found in homes or buildings which have sustained flooding, or water damage from broken pipes, roof leaks, sewage backups, condensation, etc." Says Nelson. Spores of the fungus are in the soil and are introduced along with flood waters or dust and dirt entering the building. The fungus is most common on the paper covering sheet-rock but can also be found on wallpaper, ceiling tiles, paper products, carpets with natural fibers, paper covering on insulated pipes, insulation material, on wood, and on general organic debris.

There are many symptoms of sick building syndrome:

Symptoms:

The symptoms that could occur during an outbreak of sick building syndrome are: headaches; eye, nose, or throat irritation; a dry cough; dry or itchy skin; difficulty in concentrating; dizziness and nausea; sensitivity to odors, irritability; intolerance to heat or cold; and sneezing. These symptoms seem to disappear when the persons affected leave the area that is contaminated.

Contributing factors:

Some of the factors that contribute to sick building syndrome are: Inadequate temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation: chemical contaminants from outside sources like exhaust from vehicles, plumbing vents and building exhausts: chemicals from inside, like glue, upholstery, and carpeting: biological contaminants such as pollen, bacteria, viruses and molds.

Research:

NASA research suggests that by including house and office plants into the building they can decrease the incidence of sick building syndrome. Plants are beneficial to have in homes and offices because of the accompanying benefits they bring. They are even said to be able to clean up "sick buildings".

Benefits of plants:

So sick building syndrome seems to be easy to "catch". It looks like you should reap the benefits of having plants in your home or office to combat this "illness". Plants spend their days converting carbon dioxide that we, in the home or workplace, exhale into breathable air. This continuous conversion cleanses and purifies the air of the noxious fumes that accumulate in the air and cause it to become stale and rotten.

So help keep your workspace and home safe from sick building syndrome by going out to your nearest plant nursery and picking out some beautiful plants to bring back to work or home. Place them everywhere and ward off those noxious fumes with that wonderful, breathable oxygen!

Resources:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html

http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/relat ed-conditions/sick-building-syndrome-(sbs)/

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