Office Environment Syndrome Study: Part I

Abstract

An indoor environment survey (temperature, relative humidity, illuminance, noise, infrasound, CO, CO₂, formaldehyde, respirable dust weight, particle counts, mite allergen in carpet or chair dust, individual and total volatile organic compounds, individual and total microbiological volatile organic compounds) was conducted in 4 office buildings. A detailed self-report occupant comfort, ergonomic conditions and SBS questionnaire survey was administered to all employees, and 1,508 returns were received (72% return rate). There were few associations between specific SBS symptoms and specific environment measures were found, but total SBS symptoms were not correlated with most of the indoor environment measures. There was a significant difference in SBS reports between areas above and below 650 ppm CO₂. SBS symptoms were correlated with perceived indoor environment conditions, cacosmia, overwork, migraine, allergies, and musculoskeletal complaints. SBS symptoms were not associated with negative affect, worry, or general anxiety and stress.