Dr Muiris Houston explains how bad building design and poor ventilation are responsible for headaches, fatigue and respiratory infections
Since the 1970s there have been reports of health problems related to specific buildings.
These are usually categorised under 'Sick Building Syndrome'. Common symptoms include headache, fatigue, eye and nasal irritation, respiratory infections and irritability. These symptoms tend to improve with time away from work.
Many buildings used for clerical and office work are not purpose built. Often they are poorly designed and have inadequate ventilation.
Newer buildings with mechanical ventilation may experience problems with poor air quality.
Building-related asthma can develop in water-damaged buildings where fungal mould spores can cause irritation to sensitive lungs or where ventilation or humidifiers are contaminated.
In older buildings constructed before the 1970s, asbestos was often used for insulation purposes. Asbestos degrades with age and may be disturbed when renovations are ongoing or new pipes or electrical cables are being laid.
Office workers can be exposed to asbestos dust as a result which may have long-term implications for the workers' health, as asbestos exposure has been linked to cancer and lung disease.
Building-related infections such as Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac fever can occur when bacteria grow in the warm waters of the building's cooling towers. Studies in the US Army have shown that viral respiratory infections occurred less frequently in trainees who lived in old 'leaky' buildings compared with those who lived in newer sealed ones.
Environmental tobacco smoke can cause respiratory irritation, heart disease and lung cancer. With the implementation of the workplace smoking ban next week, it would be interesting to hear from readers whether symptoms such as headache, eye and nasal irritation become less bothersome as the air quality within the office environment improves.
In addition to the benefits of no longer inhaling smoke particles, office workers should use this opportunity to explore, with management, the possibility of increasing the amount of natural air circulating within the building.