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Sick Building Syndrome

Diseases due to mould

Cleaning up mould

The indoor environment is a creation of the modern era. Previously, buildings were notable for the extent to which they were really open to the outside air, a system that could be referred to as natural ventilation. But, technological advances have permitted us to seal buildings tightly, recirculate the air within them, and fill them with a variety of particle- and chemical-emitting materials and objects.

Complaints and anecdotes regarding illnesses produced by life inside such buildings have become commonplace [109, 1050, 1520, 1883]. Several categories of these illnesses have been proposed [1520]:

Specific Illnesses

Indoor transmission of standard infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or legionellosis.
Allergic reactions to indoor allergens such as dust mites, plant products, or fungal products.
Irritation due to (volatile) chemicals released from the environment.
Carbon monoxide poisoning related to recirculation of cigarette smoke or exhaust fumes.

Non-Specific Illnesses

This is a diverse group of work-related symptoms that include irritation of the skin, mucous membanes (mouth, nose, throat), headache, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
A variety of factors have been associated with increased rates of these complaints: younger age, female sex, cigarette smoking, type of work (e.g., working near a photocopier), level of office crowding, presence of carpets, and type/volume of ventilation.

In approaching this area, we focus on the sick building syndrome in the context of all of the above forms with the exception of indoor transmission of true infectious agents. In this context, the phrase "sick building syndrome" or "building-related illness" is used when there is no infection of the patient in the strict sense. Rather, some component (chemical or other material) found in the interior environment is thought be causing the symptoms at hand.

As far as we know, there is no agreed upon definition for a "sick building," nor is it clear how to definitely diagnose a sick building. And, in the strictest sense, the phrase "sick building syndrome" is a poor choice of words in that it implies many pathophysiogical concepts that may not be accurate. For example, are there healthy buildings? Is the problem with the building truly an infection? Can the sickness be transmitted from one building to another? The term "building-related illness" has been proposed as a preferred phrase [1520], but we use here the phrase "sick building syndrome" because of its widespread acceptance as a label for this problem.

From the list of associated illnesses given above, it should be clear that many types of symptoms are possible. Investigation should reveal a pattern of complaints that span multiple individuals. The chief clues to the building as the cause are (a) the presence of symptoms while working or living in the building, (b) the clearance of the symptoms upon leaving the building and living/working elsewhere for a while, (c) the return of the symptoms upon return to the building, and (d) the presence of the symptoms in multiple individuals. Typically, there will be be a few individuals who are severely affected, a larger number with moderate symptoms, and then others with no symptoms.

Based on the summaries by Apter et al. [109], Redlich et al. [1883], and Menzies & Bourbeau [1520], the following factors seem to be among the more prominent causes of the sick building syndrome. Of note, the EPA's The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality is a particularly good summary of indoor air pollutants:

Building Factors

Mechanical ventilation
Relative humidity < 30%
Fresh air ventilation rates < 10 liters/second/person

Specific Environmental Factors & Pollutants

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): formaldehyde, solvents, etc.
Carbon monoxide: Stoves, heaters, and furnaces
Dust & fibres: asbestosis, fibreglass, dirt
Bioaerosols: Bacteria, moulds, viruses, pollen, dust mites, animal danders, animal excreta
Trapped outdoor pollutants: vehicle or industrial exhausts
Physical factors: Lighting, vibration, noise, temperature, crowding, photoduplication

Personal Factors

Female sex
History of being allergic (atopic)
Job-related tensions
Job dissatisfaction

Of these many factors, complaints related to the quantity and nature of the ventilation are said to be among the most frequently identified problems. Buildings with less than ~ 10 liters/second of fresh outside air per person do appear more often associated with complaints. 10 liters/second is ~ 20 cubic feet/minute (10 liters/second x 60 seconds/minute x 0.0353 cu. feet/liter = 21.2 cubic feet/minute), and this figure thus matches the amount of fresh air per person that ASHRAE (American Society fo Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) feels is necessary to remove usual human odors and emissions [1050].

How do you figure out what is causing a particular problem? We have no profound insights here other than the obvious suggestion to proceed methodically. Simply having the above list of ideas from which to work may help you get started. The discussion of this problem by Hodgson is particularly thoughtful and well worth reading [1050]. Hiring an environmental expert might be of value, as they may well see things that you don't see. Also, the EPA publication entitled Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals is a guide for physicians that specifically addresses the issues of evaluating building-related symptoms. Remember always that more than one factor could be at fault--don't stop with the first thing(s) you find!

Where do the fungi fit into all of this? Well, they seem to generally be pretty far down the list. There are certainly case reports in which fungi seem to have been the major cause of the building-related complaints [1051]. However, other factors are often more prominent [420].

With all that said and done, how can we summarize this area with respect to fungi? Our thoughts go as follows:

Fungi are just one of many sources of both allergens and toxins in the environment (see our more extended list, above). Thus, elimination of fungi from the environment may or may not relieve symptoms thought related to a building.
The levels of these fungal allergens can be sufficient to induce allergic responses in sensitive individuals.
The levels of fungal toxins in environmental dust and such are usually quite low. Very closed spaces could of course build up greater quantities of toxins, but this does not appear to be the usual case. It is thus generally unclear what, if anything, these toxins are doing. Firm cause-effect linkages are hard to establish.
There seem to be buildings that provoke a variety of symptoms in people. The chief clues to the building as the cause are (a) the presence of symptoms while working or living in the building, (b) the clearance of the symptoms upon leaving the building and living/working elsewhere for a while, (c) the return of the symptoms upon return to the building, and (d) the presence of the symptoms in multiple individuals.
If the building in question contains perceptible levels of fungi (that is, fungus that is visible or producing odors), the infested area(s) should be cleaned until they are free of such levels of contamination. Sterility is not possible--the area just needs to be free of visible and odor-producing fungus.
Such cleaning may or may not relieve the symptoms. This is entirely to be expected--fungi are only one of the many causes of the complaints reported as part of the sick building syndrome.

We provide specific literature references below. The Aspergillus Web Site's discussion of this area is particularly helpful. And, we also have a separate page devoted just to a critical summary of the mould-related literature that is readily found on the web. Check it out!

About These Pages
The material and ideas here are drawn from many sources, including our own experience. However, this is an area with few guidelines and even fewer hard facts. So, you must always apply common sense in choosing how to adapt the ideas presented here to your own situation. When in doubt, please consult with a professional. At times, there is simply no substitute for experience and personal knowledge.

Diseases due to mould

Cleaning up mould

References

109. Apter, A., A. Bracker, M. Hodgson, J. Sidman, and W. Y. Leung. 1994. Epidemiology of the sick building syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 94:277-88.

420. Chapman, J. A., A. I. Terr, R. L. Jacobs, E. N. Charlesworth, and E. J. Bardana. 2003. Toxic mold: phantom risk vs science. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 91:222-232.

1050. Hodgson, M. 2000. Sick building syndrome. Occup Med. 15:571-85.

1051. Hodgson, M. J., P. Morey, W. Y. Leung, L. Morrow, D. Miller, B. B. Jarvis, H. Robbins, J. F. Halsey, and E. Storey. 1998. Building-associated pulmonary disease from exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor. J Occup Environ Med. 40:241-9.

1520. Menzies, D., and J. Bourbeau. 1997. Building-related illnesses. N Engl J Med. 337:1524-31.

1883. Redlich, C. A., J. Sparer, and M. R. Cullen. 1997. Sick-building syndrome. Lancet. 349:1013-6.