What we know, and don`t know about sick building syndrome

The prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms is high in office environments and not as high in homes. Examples of the technical factors associated with a high prevalence of SBS are the age of the building, the outdoor air-flow rate, dampness problems, the presence of photocopiers or humidifiers, and a low standard of cleaning. It has not been proven that the materials or certain types of building constructions as such have given rise to problems, but rather incorrect handling of the materials. The materials and the constructions themselves appear to perform satisfactorily if they are not exposed to the action of moisture. Little is known regarding the significance of the presence of individual chemical airborne pollutants or groups of these (e.g., total volatile organic compound [TVOC]), particulate pollutants, or microbial agents. The difficulties in measuring and characterizing such agents are so great that measurements at present should primarily be done within a research context, not in routine investigations.