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Building-Related Symptoms among Office Employees Associated with Indoor Carbon Dioxide and Total Volatile Organic Compounds

Author

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  • Chung-Yen Lu

    (School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
    Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan)

  • Jia-Min Lin

    (Institute of Environmental Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan)

  • Ying-Yi Chen

    (Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 100, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Chun Chen

    (Department of Health Management, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan)

Abstract

This study investigated whether sick building syndrome (SBS) complaints among office workers were associated with the indoor air quality. With informed consent, 417 employees in 87 office rooms of eight high-rise buildings completed a self-reported questionnaire for symptoms experienced at work during the past month. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), temperature, humidity and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in each office were simultaneously measured for eight office hours using portable monitors. Time-averaged workday difference between the indoor and the outdoor CO 2 concentrations (dCO 2 ) was calculated as a surrogate measure of ventilation efficiency for each office unit. The prevalence rates of SBS were 22.5% for eye syndrome, 15.3% for upper respiratory and 25.4% for non-specific syndromes. Tiredness (20.9%), difficulty in concentrating (14.6%), eye dryness (18.7%) were also common complaints. The generalized estimating equations multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) per 100 ppm increase in dCO 2 were significantly associated with dry throat (1.10, 95% CI = (1.00–1.22)), tiredness (1.16, 95% CI = (1.04–1.29)) and dizziness (1.22, 95% CI = (1.08–1.37)). The ORs for per 100 ppb increases in TVOCs were also associated with upper respiratory symptoms (1.06, 95% CI = (1.04–1.07)), dry throat (1.06, 95% CI = (1.03–1.09)) and irritability (1.02, 95% CI = (1.01–1.04)). In conclusion, the association between some SBS symptoms and the exposure to CO 2 and total VOCs are moderate but may be independently significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Chung-Yen Lu & Jia-Min Lin & Ying-Yi Chen & Yi-Chun Chen, 2015. "Building-Related Symptoms among Office Employees Associated with Indoor Carbon Dioxide and Total Volatile Organic Compounds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:6:p:5833-5845:d:50209
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vithawat Surawattanasakul & Wachiranun Sirikul & Ratana Sapbamrer & Kampanat Wangsan & Jinjuta Panumasvivat & Pheerasak Assavanopakun & Supang Muangkaew, 2022. "Respiratory Symptoms and Skin Sick Building Syndrome among Office Workers at University Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand: Associations with Indoor Air Quality, AIRMED Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Silvia Vilčeková & Ilija Zoran Apostoloski & Ľudmila Mečiarová & Eva Krídlová Burdová & Jozef Kiseľák, 2017. "Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Houses of Macedonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Massimo Cipolla & Alberto Izzotti & Filippo Ansaldi & Paolo Durando & Maria Teresa Piccardo, 2017. "Volatile Organic Compounds in Anatomical Pathology Wards: Comparative and Qualitative Assessment of Indoor Airborne Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-8, June.
    4. Kyle L. Alford & Naresh Kumar, 2021. "Pulmonary Health Effects of Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds—A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Dayoung Jung & Youngtae Choe & Jihun Shin & Eunche Kim & Gihong Min & Dongjun Kim & Mansu Cho & Chaekwan Lee & Kilyong Choi & Byung Lyul Woo & Wonho Yang, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Its Association with Subjective Symptoms among Office Workers in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Chung-Yen Lu & Meng-Chuan Tsai & Chih-Hsin Muo & Yu-Hsien Kuo & Fung-Chang Sung & Chin-Ching Wu, 2017. "Personal, Psychosocial and Environmental Factors Related to Sick Building Syndrome in Official Employees of Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    7. Chung-Yen Lu & Sy-Yuan Kang & Shu-Hui Liu & Cheng-Wei Mai & Chao-Heng Tseng, 2016. "Controlling Indoor Air Pollution from Moxibustion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Della Egfors & Anita Gidlöf Gunnarsson & Niklas Ricklund, 2022. "Changes in Reported Symptoms Attributed to Office Environments in Sweden between 1995 and 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Ying-Yi Chen & Fung-Chang Sung & Mei-Lien Chen & I-Fang Mao & Chung-Yen Lu, 2016. "Indoor Air Quality in the Metro System in North Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-10, December.

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