Sick building syndrome and building related illness are terms used to describe health responses that are tied to being in a specific building. Although, there is a subtle difference between the two.
Sick building syndrome means multiply (~20%) regular occupants of a building experience vague symptoms that only occur while they’re in the building, routinely dissipating once they leave. In this case, no specific illness is identified and the cause of the problem often goes unsolved. However, poor indoor air quality is assumed since symptoms are nonexistent when the suffering occupants spend time out of the building.
With sick building syndrome, the occupants typically complain of symptoms like:
- nausea
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- dry cough
- congestion
- runny nose
- dry, itchy skin
- odor sensitivity
- irritated, red eyes
- breathing problems
- nose, throat irritation
- concentration difficulty
Again, relief from your symptoms associated with sick building syndrome should resolve soon after leaving the building.
In contrast, building related illness conveys that clearly airborne building contaminants are causing your symptoms of a specific illness, confirmed by diagnosis. Some of the causes for an illness related to a building include:
- airborne infections ~ legionellosis
- toxic exposure ~ chemicals, physical agents
- biological contaminants ~ bacteria, mold, pollen, virus
- hypersensitivity ~ hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
Building related illnesses are less common and may only affect a few, but the health effects are frequently more serious. And generally the type of symptoms you experience depend on the illness, which may involve those already mentioned plus:
This building caused situation may require a prolonged symptom recovery period after you leave.
Exposure to radon and asbestos from within a building can cause you a serious health condition years later. Yet, they’re not classified as causes of sick buildings syndrome or a building related illness.