Sick building syndrome is a combination of conditions (syndrome) related to a person’s workplace or home. This condition first came to public attention in 1984 when the World Health Organization, WHO, published a report recognizing the disease as a real condition with a clear cause. This report recognized the many people who suffered from this syndrome.

History

The WHO not only acknowledged the existence of sick building syndrome in its report, it also described in the report that the main cause was the bad air that people came into contact with in their homes and offices. In approximately 30% of new-build homes and recently renovated buildings, users are at increased risk of developing this condition.According to the municipality of Utrecht, Gerrit Rietsveld College has a very unhealthy indoor climate.The question in the 1980s was how sick building syndrome could suddenly appear everywhere. Looking back, it appears that the problem of unhealthy buildings arose after the oil crisis of 1973. During this crisis, oil prices rose dramatically and energy suddenly became an expensive product. Who doesn’t remember the images of car-free Sundays in the Netherlands where people relaxed and cycled along the highway? In response to the terribly expensive oil, people tried to build buildings as energy-efficient as possible. After all, people were trying to keep heating costs in check, which exploded due to the oil crisis. As a result, newly built schools, offices and houses were constructed as airtight as possible. It was assumed that these types of buildings would have lower heating costs, which would also make them energy efficient. The latter was certainly correct. Unfortunately, this method of construction had a very unfavorable side effect. Not only was cold air kept out, bacteria, mold and other pollutants were also kept inside. These trapped pollutants were given the opportunity to accumulate and multiply in the enclosed spaces to dangerous concentrations. It was precisely these microorganisms and their waste products that caused people who came into contact with them to become ill. The better insulation was therefore the main reason why the sick building syndrome emerged. While at the beginning of the twentieth century there was a standard of 1 cubic meter of fresh air per minute per person, this was reduced to 0.3 cubic meters in the 1970s. The people working in these renovated or newly constructed buildings began to complain of a wide variety of symptoms. It was remarkable that many people’s complaints diminished once they had left the building for some time. However, this was not the case for everyone. Some patients continued to suffer from symptoms even long after no longer entering the “sick” building.Finally, in 1984, the WHO published a report on the disease that also included recommendations on how to prevent sick building syndrome. One of the recommendations contained therein was that ventilation should be restored to a level of 1 cubic meter per minute.

Symptoms of sick building syndrome and the consequences for functioning

The symptoms characteristic of sick building syndromes include headaches. muscle pain, exhaustion, coughing, dizziness, nervousness, dry itchy skin, rash, red eyes, nose irritation, difficulty breathing and difficulty concentrating. This list can even be supplemented with other symptoms. The syndrome can therefore express itself in many different ways.Research by the GGDs into the indoor environment of primary schools showed that stuffy air in classrooms significantly reduces the learning performance of students. Research by TNO also showed that a poor indoor climate causes a company to lose productivity of 3,600 euros per employee per year.

Causes of sick building syndrome

As already written above, the accumulation of bacteria and fungi in rooms with poor ventilation is one of the main causes. However, other substances can also make an important contribution to the problems when they accumulate. Asbestos, lead dust, radon gas, carbon monoxide, mildew, pollen, dust mites, formaldehyde, nitrogen, cigarette smoke and other substances make people sick. Common household cleaners and even furniture upholstery also release gases into the air that can also be very harmful. Even the home itself makes a significant contribution to indoor pollution. Items such as carpets, paint, varnish and construction adhesive breathe substances into the air that pollute the indoor environment. Worse, because houses are so well insulated these days, they can’t even work their way out, so they end up stuck inside and mixing with the pollution already in the house.

How can sick building syndrome be prevented?

If the building you are staying in was built in the period from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, it is advisable to find out how the ventilation and air conditioning is arranged. Unfortunately, many buildings from that time are still in use today without the necessary adjustments. If your building was built in a different period, don’t count yourself rich; Every building, regardless of period, has the inherent risk of causing sick building syndrome.

What measures can you take?

• Make sure there is sufficient insulation in the building or room where you stay most of the time. Open ventilation grilles as often and for as long as possible. The same goes for windows. Airing out the room by opening the windows wide is more useful than you think.
• Make sure the humidity is OK. Guidelines have now been drawn up for a better indoor climate for schools and offices. The ideal humidity level (between 40 and 65 percent) can be controlled with humidifiers or ventilation.
• Houseplants are very good for the indoor environment. They use carbon dioxide, they produce oxygen and the leaves capture some of the substances floating in the air. Moreover, it has been scientifically proven that people who stay in rooms with many plants feel better and happier just from the view of the plants.
• Ensure that pesticides, cleaning products, glues and paint products are not stored in the rooms. Escaping gases, solvents and decomposition products can spread into the air. Use the storage room.
• Radon gas has recently become known as the second most important cause of lung cancer (after smoking). This radioactive gas, which is released from building blocks and from the ground, accumulates, especially in crawl spaces. Before entering the crawl space, you should allow this space to air out for some time.
• Carbon monoxide is the cause of many tragedies. The gas released by malfunctioning heating appliances is odorless and can cause fatal asphyxiation. Make sure that the drainage of gas heaters in particular is optimal. Have this checked annually by a technician. Even small leaks of carbon monoxide, which are not fatal, can lead to various medical complaints in the long term. A solution could be the installation of a carbon monoxide detector. Just like a fire alarm, for example, this emits a loud signal when hazardous substances are detected.

Conclusion

The last three pieces of advice are: ventilate, ventilate and ventilate. Don’t lock yourself in a dirty room and give dangerous substances and micro-organisms the opportunity to escape. Keep the areas clean, but don’t overdo it. Otherwise, the chemicals from cleaning products could be worse than the problem!