With the current emphasis on energy efficiency, buildings are generally constructed to be air-tight, leading to insufficient air exchange. Hence, chemicals that enter the indoor environment either from the outside or from internal sources stay trapped within our living space, where they may make us sick. 

“Sick building syndrome” is a term used to describe a condition in which people experience ill health only when inside a particular building. They are free of symptoms when not in that building. While symptoms vary from person to person, they may include headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, nausea and eye/nose/throat irritation. This condition is different to “building related illness”, which refers to ill health caused by a particular building contaminant, the symptoms of which are felt even when occupants are away from the source of exposure. Examples include Legionnaire’s disease and asbestos-related diseases.

What makes a building sick?

Each room in a building may either contain substances or present conditions that make people sick. It is particularly important to consider the bedroom environment, as we normally spend around one third of our lives there. 

Some of the main causes of illness commonly found in homes and offices are listed below, together with general health effects that may be associated with exposure to them. The actual health effects experienced by an individual will depend on many factors, including the nature of the source, the level and duration of exposure and personal sensitivity to it.

• Dust and dust mites.

• Sources include :

• air conditioning systems
• bedding
• furnishings

• Associated adverse health effects may include asthma, allergies

• Mould

• Sources include :

• air conditioning systems
• windows subjected to condensation
• areas kept damp by flooding, leaking water pipes or surface moisture

• Associated adverse health effects may include asthma, eye/nose/throat irritation, headaches, fatigue

• Chemicals

• Sources include :

• air fresheners
• chemicals released from carpets, building materials, insulation materials, treated fabrics such as curtains, drapes, bed coverings, mattresses, lounge suites and electrical appliances (including TV’s, computers) which heat up during use
• fumes from photocopiers, fax machines, printers
• chemical odours from dry cleaned clothing
• vapours from personal care products, perfumes
• pesticides
• laundry detergents, disinfectants, bleach and other cleaning products
• paints, glues and adhesives
• automobile exhaust

• Associated adverse health effects may include eye/nose/throat irritation, allergies, difficult breathing, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, cancer

• Heavy metals

• Sources include :

• flaking lead-based paints
• copper drinking water pipes
• CCA treated timber
• cigarette smoke

• Associated adverse health effects may include fatigue, irritability, headache, learning difficulties, insomnia, poor co-ordination, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting   

• Combustion products

• Sources include :

• open fireplaces
• unflued gas heaters
• gas cooking appliances

• Associated adverse health effects may include breathing difficulties, difficulty concentrating, headaches, fatigue, nausea, eye/nose/throat irritation

• Electromagnetic fields

• Sources include :

• clock radios, electric blankets
• TV’s, home entertainment systems and other electrical appliances
• charging units for mobile phones and other cordless electronic devices
• security systems control panels
• fuse boxes and house wiring
• power lines

• Associated adverse health effects may include  difficulty concentrating, dizziness, loss of memory, headaches, ringing in the ears, sleep disturbances, depression, fatigue, weakness, Immune suppression, cancer, miscarriage

• Radio frequencies

• Sources include :

• mobile phones and mobile phone towers
• cordless phones
• wireless electronic equipment

• Associated adverse health effects may include sleep disturbances, tiredness, headaches, irritability, forgetfulness, learning difficulties, tinnitus

• Geopathic stress

• Sources include :

• negative earth energies from geological faults, underground water sources
• negative energies left behind by the previous inhabitants of a space

• Associated adverse health effects may include cancer, multiple sclerosis, disturbed sleep, strange dreams or nightmares, waking feeling unrefreshed, tiredness, depression, headaches, repeated miscarriages, failure to thrive, learning difficulties

• Other

• Sources include :

• garbage odours
• temperature and relative humidity either too high or too low

How can you make a building healthier?

 Ideally, the best way to minimise exposure to these contaminants is to eliminate their sources from the living environment. If necessary, less toxic alternatives can be substituted. For example, cleaning products and personal care products which contain only naturally-derived ingredients can be used instead of standard products. A slightly moistened microfibre cloth is often all that is needed to clean tiles, mirrors and windows.

If it is not possible to either eliminate or substitute a source of illness, then either isolate it or increase your distance from it. For instance, photocopiers, printers and fax machines should be located away from people’s desks, in a separate room which is vented to the outside, while fuse boxes, which emit high electromagnetic fields, should ideally be located on an exterior wall as far as possible from bedrooms, work areas and other spaces where people spend a lot of time.

Improved housekeeping practices may be beneficial if exposure to contaminants cannot be eliminated.  Weekly vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum cleaner and regularly exposing bedding, soft furnishings and rugs to sunlight may help reduce exposure to dust mite allergens, while wiping down the walls and floor of a shower recess after each use, to remove excess moisture, may significantly reduce mould growth.

Finally, if exposure to toxic substances cannot be avoided, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when exposed to these substances. Chemical manufacturers can provide details of the PPE requirements for each of their products.