Building-Related Symptoms among Office Employees Associated with Indoor Carbon Dioxide and Total Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

This study investigated whether sick building syndrome (SBS) complaints among office workers were associated with the indoor air quality. With informed consent, 417 employees in 87 office rooms of eight high-rise buildings completed a self-reported questionnaire for symptoms experienced at work during the past month. Carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, humidity and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in each office were simultaneously measured for eight office hours using portable monitors. Time-averaged workday difference between the indoor and the outdoor CO2 concentrations (dCO2) was calculated as a surrogate measure of ventilation efficiency for each office unit. The prevalence rates of SBS were 22.5% for eye syndrome, 15.3% for upper respiratory and 25.4% for non-specific syndromes. Tiredness (20.9%), difficulty in concentrating (14.6%), eye dryness (18.7%) were also common complaints. The generalized estimating equations multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) per 100 ppm increase in dCO2 were significantly associated with dry throat (1.10, 95% CI = (1.00–1.22)), tiredness (1.16, 95% CI = (1.04–1.29)) and dizziness (1.22, 95% CI = (1.08–1.37)). The ORs for per 100 ppb increases in TVOCs were also associated with upper respiratory symptoms (1.06, 95% CI = (1.04–1.07)), dry throat (1.06, 95% CI = (1.03–1.09)) and irritability (1.02, 95% CI = (1.01–1.04)). In conclusion, the association between some SBS symptoms and the exposure to CO2 and total VOCs are moderate but may be independently significant.

Adolescent lung function associated with incense burning and other environmental exposures at home

“…The indoor concentration of carbon dioxide elevated with increasing crowding levels and associated with dry throat, tiredness, and dizziness 26. The crowding levels at home were associated with cough and phlegm among children 3.…”

Volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue

“…One study from Dalian, China, found positive associations between 1,1,1-trichloroethane, xylene, butanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and styrene concentrations in homes and current SBS (Guo et al, 2013). Another study from Taiwan found associations between TVOC and upper respiratory symptoms, dry throat and mucosal irritation (Lu et al, 2015). One study found positive associations between levels of ethylbenzene, trichloroethylene, xylene and TVOC in population-based samples of homes in France (Billonnet et al, 2011).…”

Indoor Air Quality in the Metro System in North Taiwan

“…The EPA requires that the indoor air quality (IAQ) of rapid transit systems to comply with the stipulated standards for CO, CO 2 , and HCHO [5]. Previous studies have associated poor indoor air quality with building-related symptoms and oxidative stress [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. The accumulation of indoor CO 2 , HCHO, TVOCs, O 3 , PM 10 , bacteria and fungal contamination significantly increases the risks of sick building syndrome (SBS) [6,7,8,9,10,11], and high urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels [12,13,14].…”

“…Previous studies have associated poor indoor air quality with building-related symptoms and oxidative stress [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. The accumulation of indoor CO 2 , HCHO, TVOCs, O 3 , PM 10 , bacteria and fungal contamination significantly increases the risks of sick building syndrome (SBS) [6,7,8,9,10,11], and high urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels [12,13,14]. Urinary 8-OHdG is considered as a biomarker for oxidative stress and has been significantly associated with building-related complaints in office workers [14,15], the exposure to polyaromatic hydrocarbons in traffic conductors and Chinese military cooks [16,17] as well as the exposure of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in bus drivers [18].…”