Respiratory Morbidity in Office Workers in a Water-Damaged Building

Abstract

We conducted a study on building-related respiratory disease and associated social impact in an office building with water incursions in the northeastern United States. An initial questionnaire had 67% participation (888/1,327). Compared with the U.S. adult population, prevalence ratios were 2.2–2.5 for wheezing, lifetime asthma, and current asthma, 3.3 for adult-onset asthma, and 3.4 for symptoms improving away from work (p < 0.05). Two-thirds (66/103) of the adult-onset asthma arose after occupancy, with an incidence rate of 1.9/1,000 person-years before building occupancy and 14.5/1,000 person-years after building occupancy. We conducted a second survey on 140 respiratory cases, 63 subjects with fewer symptoms, and 44 comparison subjects. Health-related quality of life decreased with increasing severity of respiratory symptoms and in those with work-related symptoms. Symptom status was not associated with job satisfaction or how often jobs required hard work. Respiratory health problems accounted for one-third of sick leave, and respiratory cases with work-related symptoms had more respiratory sick days than those without work-related symptoms (9.4 vs. 2.4 days/year; p < 0.01). Abnormal lung function and/or breathing medication use was found in 67% of respiratory cases, in 38% of participants with fewer symptoms, and in 11% of the comparison group (p < 0.01), with similar results in never-smokers. Postoccupancy-onset asthma was associated with less atopy than preoccupancy-onset asthma. Occupancy of the water-damaged building was associated with onset and exacerbation of respiratory conditions, confirmed by objective medical tests. The morbidity and lost work time burdened both employees and employers.

Quality of life of patients with asthma related to damp and moldy work environments

“…An evaluation of respiratory morbidity in a water-damaged building in the northeastern United States found trends of increasing impairment in QOL with an increasing severity of respiratory symptoms (23).…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA #2005-0167-2983, Indian River Memorial Hospital, Center for Emotional and Behavioral Health, Vero Beach, Florida.

“…8,9 Development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an allergic-type lung disease, has also been linked to damp or moisture-damaged buildings. 8,9 While building-related symptoms such as headache and eye, nose, and throat irritation generally resolve after the affected individual leaves the building and usually do not pose any long-term health risk, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis can lead to decreased lung function if exposure to the triggering agent is allowed to continue. To prevent potential effects on the health of workers, NIOSH recommends following the guidelines established by EPA and NYDOHMH when remediating moisture-damaged building materials (i.e.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA #2004-0138-2967, Samuel Staples Elementary School, Easton, Connecticut.

“…4 Another NIOSH investigation conducted in a waterdamaged office building reported similar results when comparing health outcomes to NHANES and BASE data. 7 One limitation of comparing prevalences reported by participants in a school setting to those reported by office workers is that we are not comparing similar occupational groups. Other factors, such as the more frequent incidence of contagious illnesses (ie., colds or flu) occurring in school settings, may have contributed to the higher prevalence of symptoms.…”