Building-related illnesses.
Authors
Menzies-D; Kreiss-K
Source
Asthma in the workplace and related conditions, third edition. Bernstein IL, Chan-Yeun M, Malo JL, Bernstein DI, eds. New York: Taylor and Francis Group, 2006 Jan; :737-783
Abstract
Over the past 30 years, a new man-made ecosystem has developed-the controlled environment within the sealed exterior shells of modern office buildings. Air pollution may occur in this indoor environment caused by the occupants, their work activities, equipment, plants, furnishings, building materials, and even the ventilation systems themselves. In the vast majority of office buildings in North America, the major mechanism to remove these pollutants and to provide a healthy, comfortable indoor environment is the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. These highly automated systems are often run by only one or two operators. These operators have very little training in health and, in large buildings, have little contact with building occupants. When the sealed exterior shells of modern office buildings are damaged, water incursion through the building envelope can give rise to damp building materials and furnishings, which often support microbial growth. This chapter reviews studies describing the health effects of the nonindustrial, nonresidential indoor environment. The evidence cited-of outbreaks, population-based studies, and experimental manipulations of the nonindustrial building environment-have been used to synthesize a conceptual model of this problem. These evidences have also been used to develop recommendations for prevention or remediation, and to aid health professionals in evaluating workers with health problems potentially related to this work environment.
Keywords
Office-workers; Office-equipment; Ventilation; Ventilation-systems; Pollutants; Pollution; Occupational-exposure; Occupational-health; Environmental-factors; Environmental-health; Workers; Worker-health; Work-environment; Health-hazards; Occupational-hazards
Editors
Bernstein-IL; Chan-Yeung-M; Malo-JL; Bernstein-DI
Priority Area
Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Source Name
Asthma in the workplace and related conditions, third edition
