Our office was just fixed up - new carpeting, new paint, new furniture, all in depressing (and slightly clashing) shades of grey. And, of course, it all has that smell of new crap giving off faintly chemically odors.
Sick Building Syndrome is apparently credited to off-gassing of chemicals from office equipment - apparently carpeting and furniture release formaldehyde and various other nasty chemicals that can cause all sorts of wacky diseases - or so people afflicted with the syndrome tell us. But Sick Building Syndrome is not exactly uncontroversial, either. So my question is what the current medical thinking is about it - is Sick Building Syndrome real? Have there been any reputable studies examining it? Do the small quantities of whatever is released by carpeting and plastic actually cause health problems? AM I GOING TO DIE???
IIRC, Sick Building Syndrome is pretty widely accepted in the abstract (the World Health Organization recognized it more than 20 years ago), but few can agree when it’s actually occurred. Building owners, employees, unions, construction companies, etc., all have a very different perspective on it, for obvious reasons.
I have a cousin who frequently switches careers & jobs. At one of her jobs she claimed mold was making her sick. (Her supervisors couldn’t find any mold, but she swore it was there.) It turned out to be her #1 excuse for missing work: “I’m not coming in to work today. I am sick, and it’s all your fault.”
At another job she claimed the building was making her sick. "I’m not coming in to work today. Chemicals in the carpet and furniture at work are making me nauseated. I am sick, and it’s all your fault.”
I not saying “Sick building Syndrome” is a farce. But I do believe my cousin was using it as an excuse for staying home.
I had an assistant for a brief time. She was allergic to damn near everything.
Print something out? “Oh, the ink gives me a headache.”
Interact with customers? "Their shampoo makes me dizzy. "
Someone comes into the office with coffee? “The smell makes me throw up.”
I once asked her to open a box of signs. “The plastic is making me sick.” I pointed out they were metal signs. “It must be the ink. I’m so sick. I got to lie down.”
I think she just didn’t want to work. Her symptoms were dizziness, headache, stomache, and throwing up (she always made it to the toilet in time, and flushed it).
Oh, yeah, toxic mold. What’s with that? How common a problem is it? It seems like it got a lot of press very briefly and then disappeared from our collective radar. Is any home with dampness in the walls at risk, or is it something limited to certain geographical areas, or what?
I have a DVD of an ASHRAE conference on mold. Mold can occur just about anywhere in the country. The common conditions seem to be a cold surface (where water can condense out of the air) and a local relative humidity of 80% or higher. That’s why you often see it inside exterior walls that are not well insulated and have poor vapor barriers.
I previously thought that mold growth would be more closely correlated with the humidity ratio, and not the relative humidity. What I learned from the DVD is that relative humidity is believed to be the key. I’m still scratching my head on that one.
The “toxic mold” turned out to be a mistake. The CDC retracted the report but evidently their retraction got less press than the original report.
From: Update: Pulmonary Hemorrhage/Hemosiderosis Among Infants --- Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996
"Update: Pulmonary Hemorrhage/Hemosiderosis Among Infants — Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996
“A review within CDC and by outside experts of an investigation of acute pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis in infants has identified shortcomings in the implementation and reporting of the investigation described in MMWR (1,2) and detailed in other scientific publications authored, in part, by CDC personnel (3-5). The reviews led CDC to conclude that a possible association between acute pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis in infants and exposure to molds, specifically Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly referred to by its synonym Stachybotrys atra, was not proven. This report describes the specific findings of these internal and external reviews.”
A reasonably sober Q&A on molds in buildings can be found at Facts about Stachybotrys chartarum | Mold | CDC
Here is an excerpt: "I heard about “toxic molds” that grow in homes and other buildings. Should I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?
“The term “toxic mold” is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven. A common-sense approach should be used for any mold contamination existing inside buildings and homes. The common health concerns from molds include hay fever-like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression may be at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. For the most part, one should take routine measures to prevent mold growth in the home.”
NOT PROOFED PREVIEW INOPERATIVE SORRY
I was an HVAC mechanic at a hospital 15 years ago. In the early 90’s when I was in the field, SBS was big news and a big concerned as newer building were increasingly airtight and companies were cutting back on air exchanges to save heating and cooling money.
It was not just gases from new Plastics and carpets but the build up of molds and toxins over time that did not occur much in the past as insulation was substandard in the past and windows were opened often. Another related factor was that Radon accumulates and is dealt with through air exchanges. Sealed buildings with minimal air exchange increased the concentration of radon gas if the area was at risk for it.
As stated I am 15 years out of the field now, so I am providing what I remember from around 1990. I have no idea of newer studies or industry trends.
I used to work in an office that had just been remodeled–new furniture, new carpet, very poor ventilation. I started getting headaches after I’d been in the office for a while. The headaches got better if I took a break and went outside for fresh air, but they eventually got worse, and it took longer for them to go away after I left the office. I ended up leaving there for another job for other reasons, but I was glad to get away from the toxic air. I’m not sure what the long-term effects would be, but it definitely got worse. Sorry, that’s not very encouraging, is it?