Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe a range of health symptoms caused by poor indoor air quality in a building. It often goes unnoticed because its symptoms, such as headaches, coughing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, can easily be mistaken for allergies or a common cold. However, the key sign of SBS is that these symptoms improve or disappear when you leave the affected building. This makes recognizing and addressing SBS crucial to maintaining good health and productivity.



In this post, we’ll explore the symptoms, risk factors, and solutions for Sick Building Syndrome and provide tips for improving your indoor air quality.

Preventing Sick Building Syndrome starts with proactive maintenance and monitoring of your indoor environment. Here are a few key steps to reduce the risk:

• Improve Ventilation: Ensure proper airflow by installing or maintaining HVAC systems, opening windows where possible, and using exhaust fans in areas with high moisture or chemical use, like bathrooms and kitchens.
• Monitor Humidity Levels: Keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50% to discourage mold growth and dust mite proliferation. Dehumidifiers or humidifiers can help regulate levels.
• Use Safe Cleaning Products: Choose non-toxic, low-VOC cleaning products and store them in well-ventilated areas. Avoid overuse of air fresheners or scented candles, which can emit harmful chemicals.
• Regular Cleaning: Vacuum and dust frequently to reduce allergens and irritants. Pay special attention to HVAC vents, carpets, and furniture, as they can trap pollutants.

Sick building syndrome can present differently in different people. However, symptoms can include:

• headache
• cough
• throat, nose, or eye irritation
• nausea
• difficulty concentrating
• allergy-like symptoms, such as sneezing.

In addition to feeling sick, one of the biggest indicators of sick building syndrome is that the patient recovers after leaving the building.

There are a few ways to tell if your building or home might cause sick building syndrome in an occupant.

• It has poor ventilation. This is a major risk factor, as no matter what else is present in your building, good ventilation will improve the air quality.
• It is located near a source of chemical fumes, such as a garage. Outdoor air coming into a building can be a source of indoor air pollution. If fumes and exhaust enter the building from nearby cars or appliances, it can make people inside the building sick.
• It contains biological contaminants, like mold or animal droppings. Mold is an extremely common cause of poor air quality.
• It contains chemical contaminants, which could range from air fresheners to asbestos. We use products that pollute our homes and buildings frequently, such as solvents, cleaning products, pesticides. Other pollutants include asbestos building materials, unvented HVAC systems, and deteriorating furniture. All of these diverse chemical contaminants can build up without proper ventilation.

Did you know that indoor plants can help improve air quality in your home or office? While they shouldn’t replace other measures like ventilation or professional cleaning, certain plants are known to reduce airborne toxins and increase oxygen levels.

Here are a few excellent options for cleaner indoor air:

• Spider Plant: Effective at removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other toxins.
• Peace Lily: Known for reducing mold spores and filtering harmful pollutants.
• Snake Plant: Absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen even at night, making it great for bedrooms.

Adding plants not only improves air quality but also enhances the aesthetic appeal and comfort of your space. Remember to keep them healthy and clean to prevent them from becoming sources of mold or pests themselves.

If you or your building's occupants have long-lasting illnesses that seem to clear up when they leave the building, you should get a professional air quality test. Air quality tests can detect the presence of mold, asbestos, radon, tobacco smoke, and other contaminants, allowing you to find the culprit behind your poor air quality. Once you know exactly what the problem is, you can fix it without trial and error.

At BioClean, we can help you determine whether your building has poor air quality and is causing sick building syndrome with indoor air quality testing. If you suspect you have poor ventilation or contaminants, we can find out what's wrong and work with you to fix it. Contact us today.