What Physical symptoms are experienced when suffering from sick building syndrome?

Answer 1

The symptoms of mold-related Sick Building Syndrome are the following: Health effects (of mold) generally fall into seven categories:

1. Type-1 Allergy or Immediate-Type Hypersensitivity

2. Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Reaction

3. Infection

4. Mucous Membrane and Trigeminal Nerve Irritation

5. Adverse Reactions to Odor or Pseudoallergy

6. Toxicity or Neurotoxicity by Molds and Mycotoxins

7. Immunotoxicity Induced by Molds and Mycotoxins By: Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., M.T. (from Health Effects of Mold https://www.schoolmoldhelp.org/content/view/596/66/) for more information visit www.schoolmoldhelp.org, visit the Information - Sick Building Symptoms section, where hundreds of articles and research is archived.

"Excessive indoor dampness is a public-health problem: ... sufficient evidence of an association exists between signs of dampness and upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, and Asthma symptoms in sensitized persons; and sufficient evidence of an association exists between signs of mold and upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, asthma symptoms in sensitized persons and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons. (IOM: Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, 2004, p.327)

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments (a syndrome) associated with an individual's place of work (office building), school, or residence. "The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term "building related illness" (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants." (US EPA). An example of BRI is Legionnaire's Disease, attributed to specific bacteria. A 1984 World Health Organization report into Sick Building Syndrome suggested up to 30% of new and remodelled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS. Most sick building syndrome complaints are related to poor indoor air quality. The health complaints often include: (SBS) "... symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors. The cause of the symptoms is not known. (BRI) include: ...symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; and muscle aches. The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes" (US EPA). "Damp building / mold-related complaints may include allergic, hypersensitivity, toxicity - including immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity, mucous membrane or trigeminal nerve irritation, or infectious reactions" (Vojdani). "Damp buildings produce an environment where molds and bacteria grow: One consequence of indoor dampness is new or enhanced growth of fungi and other microbial agents, mold growth is usually accompanied by bacterial growth, mold and bacterial growth produce health effects, some research on fungi and bacteria focuses on specific components that may be responsible for particular health effects: spores and hyphal fragments of fungi, spores and cells of bacteria, allergens of microbial origin, structural components of fungal and bacterial cells, and such products as microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC's) and mycotoxins, release of these components varies..., bacteria and fungi can cause allergic responses, non-allergic, toxic and inflammatory effects, excessive indoor dampness is a public health problem, inhalation fevers are associated with occupational exposure to high concentrations of organic materials, including bacteria, fungi, and their associated constituents and emissions"(IOM, 2004). This is an emerging illness, with complaints stemming from construction practices that began in the 1970's. Health complaints may be transient or become chronic, in some cases. Sick building research shows that building-related symptoms are associated with building characteristics, including dampness, cleanliness, and ventilation characteristics (NIOSH). Causes are frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds, molds (see mold health issues), improper exhaust ventilation of light industrial chemicals used within, or fresh-air intake location / lack of adequate air filtration (see Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). Symptoms are often dealt with after-the-fact by boosting the overall turn-over rate of fresh air exchange with the outside air, but the new green building design goal should be to avoid most of the SBS problem sources in the first place, minimize the ongoing use of VOC cleaning compounds, and eliminate conditions that encourage allergenic, potentially-deadly mold growth.

from Toxipedia, Sick Building Syndrome (http://toxipedia.org/wiki/display/toxipedia/Sick+Building+Syndrome)