Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A limited number of studies have been conducted to assess the relation-
ship between IAQ and worker productivity. Studies employing subjective
ratings of productivity and IAQ indicate that perceived productivity
decreases when symptom prevalence rates increase. Quantitative studies
have been limited, and no quantitative relationship between IAQ and pro-
ductivity in office buildings has been reported to date.
V. SBS-type symptom risk factors
As previously suggested, occupant symptoms associated with office, com-
mercial, and institutional building environments appear to have a multifac-
torial origin. In addition, a variety of factors have been identified which,
either directly or indirectly, contribute to increased symptom prevalence or
reporting rates. These include personal characteristics of occupants, psycho-
social factors, tobacco smoke, building environmental conditions and fur-
nishings, office materials and equipment, and individual contaminants.
A. Personal characteristics
A variety of personal characteristics of building occupants have been eval-
uated as potential contributing factors to SBS-type symptom preva-
lence/reporting rates in systematic building studies. These have included
gender, age, marital status, atopy, and lifestyle factors such as smoking,
alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, exercise, use of contact lenses, etc.
Gender and allergic history have been reported to be major risk factors
for SBS-type symptom prevalence/reporting rates. Mixed results have been
reported for tobacco smoke.
1.
Gender
In systematic building studies, females consistently report SBS-type symp-
toms at rates 2 to 3 times that of males. These differences are evident in the
been reported among children, with parents reporting more symptoms in
females in problem schools. These differences appear to start at an early age
and increase with age. It has been suggested that females may be more
sensitive to environmental influences or be more aware of physical symp-
toms. In the former case, studies have shown that females have a more
responsive immune system and are more prone to mucosal dryness and
facial erythema than males. Differential illness perceptions and treatment
responses between males and females appear to be universal across all
population groups. In developed countries, females in general report more
physical symptoms, take more prescribed medication, and visit physicians
more frequently. Changes in social roles involving stresses associated with
combining work and family responsibilities have also been suggested as
contributing factors in increased illness in adult females.
