Toxic buildings can make you sick

The sick building syndrome is increasingly
Affecting people around the world as
They spend more and more time indoors.
Shopping malls-cum-multiplexes are sprouting like mushrooms everywhere. These are centrally air-conditioned buildings, created for leisure and pleasure- movies, eating out, splurging on top retail brands. As we adapt to this new life style of living indoor for lone durations in air-conditioned environments, we are facing a new kind of hazard… the ‘sick
Building Syndrome.
It covers a range of symptoms, which occur when an individual spends time in a particular building. How does one find out if one’s suffering from it? There should be a group of people suffering from the same symptoms (fatigue, aches and pains, Itchiness, rashes, nasal allergy) that occur when they are in the building and absent when they are not.
What’s building- related illness then?
There is a difference between sick building syndrome and building-related illness. Where the latter is concerned, the signs and symptoms of illness are readily identifiable and can be attributed directly to specific airborne pollutants in the building-for example, hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In contrast, the causes of symptoms in cases of sick building syndrome are difficult to pin down. These could be difficulty in concentrating, dizziness. There may be a range of factors that may contribute to the situation. Although the problem of sick building syndrome has been recognized, statistics regarding the prevalence of the problem are limited. A world health organization (WHO) report from 1984 suggested that up to 30 percent of new and renovated buildings worldwide may generate excessive complaints related to the syndrome.

Symptoms
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sick Building Syndrome is suspected when the following occurs:
• Symptoms are temporally related to time spent in a particular building or part of a building.
• Symptoms resolve when the individual is not in the building
• Symptoms recur seasonally (heating, cooling)
• Co-workers, peers have noted similar complaints

Though the exact mechanism by which a building, or substances in the building, causes occupants to become ill remains unknown, the problem areas can be identified and corrective actions initiated. The ventilation system specifically is generally found to be at the heart of the problem. Poor interior design usually supplements it. The illness gets worse due to extremely low levels of specific pollutants such as volatile Organic Carbon (VOCs).
Chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is a component of the particle board being extensively used in modern buildings as well as in furniture causes irritation in eyes, nose and throat. It is also a carcinogen. These VOCs evaporate at ambient temperatures within a building. Other sources of VOCs are carpeting, paints and varnishes where these are added as solvents or binders. In addition, cleaning products used in the buildings contain a range of VOCs. Marker pent’s are a concentrated source of VOCs. Their chemical constituents include methy1 ethy1 ketone (MEK), toluene and formaldehyde-all carcinogens. The ink cartridged and toners also contain VOCs although at less concentrated levels than marker pens.
Other then chemicals, uncleaned air-conditioning systems and ducts are a breeding ground for micro-organisms and biological contaminants that cause various allergies. Other than viruses and bacteria, mold is reported to be one of the leading causes of sick building syndrome. It grows in air-conditioned ducts that provide a warm and damp climate for its rapid growth.
Building such as multiplexes are visited by large number of people with different levels of hygiene. Persons not washing their hands after using the toilet can be a big problem. Poor sanitary and cleaning practices further aggravate the problem.

How to minimize Sick Building Syndrome
• Proper ventilation and building design
• Minimal use of carcinogen chemicals like formaldehyde in the building materials
• Regular maintenance and cleaning of air-conditioning systems and ducts
• Efficient and effective monitoring of guidelines on indoor pollutants

Courtesy HT dtd:18/02/09;