The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Indoor Environmental Evaluation Experience. Part Two: Symptom Prevalence

Environmental risk factors and work‐related lower respiratory symptoms in 80 office buildings: An exploratory analysis of NIOSH data

“…Findings thus cannot be directly extrapolated to office buildings in general. In particular, estimates of symptom prevalence from these data are higher than in other US buildings [Brightman et al, 1999;Malkin et al, 1996]. The presence of environmental risks and resulting health effects may be higher in these buildings; the occupants' concerns about their indoor environments in these investigated buildings may have caused relative over-reporting of symptoms experienced while in the building; or both of these could be true.…”

Evaluation of indoor environmental quality in a college teaching and administrative building.

“…The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a similar study of 80 buildings with indoor environmental quality complaints [Malkin et al 1996]. Occupants in both studies reported work-related symptoms.…”

“…Employees in offices, schools, and other similar settings [Malkin et al 1996] have commonly reported many of the symptoms reported by the building employees in this evaluation such as headache, eye and throat irritation, dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. A symptom is any subjective sensation or perceived change in bodily function which only the individual can perceive.…”

HETA 96-0207-2635, Santa Fe Indian Hospital, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“…23,24,25,26 However, environmental deficiencies evident on the walkthrough tour may have resulted in some symptoms in some people. Although we did not measure levels of microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) in the hospital, the lack of functioning ventilation, presence of water from the showers, and odors in the men's locker room and physician's oncall room may indicate the presence of fungi in those areas.…”