Effects of temperature and humidification in the office environment

In this paper, the links between temperature and Sick Building Syndrome symptoms on the one hand and temperature and workers'perceptions of air dryness in environments with and without humidification on the other hand are evaluated .The average intensity of symptoms and perceptions of dry air relative to room temperature in humidified and non-humidified conditions are studied. The results are presented then analysed .

Indoor air humidification, sick building syndrome symptoms, and perceived indoor air quality in the office environment

Dryness is still one of the major complaints concerning indoor air quality in office buildings and respective nonindustrial environments. Dampness in buildings in terms of excess amounts of water in the solid parts, and the harmful consequences have been discussed vigorously in recent years. Indoor air humidity, which means water vapour in the indoor air, has been given less attention.

Low winter humidity indoors has a negative effect on the performance of office work

Thirty subjects (17 female) were exposed for 5 hours in a climate chamber to clean air at 5%, 15%, 25% and 35% RH at 22 °C, in balanced order. Another 30 subjects (15 female) were similarly exposed to air polluted by carpet and linoleum at 18, 22 and 26 °

Effects of contaminated supply air filters on symptoms from the eyes and nose - a double-blind experimental study

In buildings with mechanical ventilation, particles accumulate in the supply air filters. We conducted a field experiment in a school to investigate if such pollutants could affect the health of the pupils. In a school building we changed old and new supply air filters in the air handling units, with a cross over design of the study. Pupils answered a symptom questionnaire, and a subset of pupils was also examined by objective clinical methods.

The sick building syndrome (SBS) in office workers. A case-referent study of personal, psychosocial and building-related risk indicators.

The Office Illness Project in Northern Sweden was completed in 1994. It comprised a screening questionnaire study of 4943 office workers and a case-referent study of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) in 464 subjects. Female gender, asthma/rhinitis, high psychosocial work load, paper and visual display terminal work have all been related in previously published results to an increased prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms.

High prevalence of sick building syndrome in a new air-conditioned building in Italy.

This study compared the prevalence of sick building syndrome among two groups of public service workers in Perugia, central Italy. 525 were employed in an air conditioned building with fan-coil units in every room and 281 in three naturally ventilated buildings. All the subjects completed a questionnaire about work-related SBS symptoms with an occupational medicine specialist.

The feasibility of using a double blind experimental cross-over design to study interventions for sick building syndrome.

The study of the causes of Sick Building Syndrome and its possible solutions have been bedevilled by methodological problems. This pilot study assessed the viability of using an expermental double blind cross-over study to overcome such difficulties. The experiment involved varying the rate of supply of outdoor air from 10 cubic feet per minute per person (cfmpp) to 20 cfmpp or 50 cfmpp by controlling the building's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Mechanical ventilation in office buildings and the sick building syndrome. An experimental and epidemiological study.

This was a study of the relationship between mechanical ventilation and sick business syndrome in an office building with 1250 employees, where workers blamed the mechanical ventilation and indoor air quality for causing typical SBS symptoms such as nasal, eye, skin and mucous membrane irritations, lethargy and headaches). The building's mechanical ventilation rates were high.

Environmental, occupational and personal factors related to the prevalence of sick building syndrome in the general population.

The possible links between the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) and personal. occupational and environmental factors were studied in a random sample of the population between the ages of 20 and 65 in three districts in middle Sweden. Those persons whose mother smoked or who were brought up in urban areas more commonly reported SBS symptoms. Other variables which were related to SBS symptoms were current urban residency, fresh paint, and preschool children in the home.

Indoor air quality and personal factors related to the sick building syndrome.

As is well known, SBS involves symptoms such as eye, skin and upper airway irritation, headache, and fatigue. A multifactorial study was made among workers in consecutive cases of sick buildings to investigate the links between these symptoms, exposure to environmental factors, and personal factors. The total indoor hydrocarbon concentration had a significant correlation to the symptoms but other indoor exposures such as room temperature, air humidity, and formaldehyde or carbon dioxide concentration did not.

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