Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-10-2008 | Original Article

Sick building syndrome in relation to air exchange rate, CO₂, room temperature and relative air humidity in university computer classrooms: an experimental study

Authors: Dan Norbäck, Klas Nordström

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Objective

To study the effects of ventilation and temperature changes in computer classrooms on symptoms in students.

Methods

Technical university students participated in a blinded study. Two classrooms had higher air exchange (4.1–5.2 ac/h); two others had lower (2.3–2.6 ac/h) air exchange. After 1 week, ventilation conditions were interchanged between the rooms. The students reported symptoms during the last hour, on a seven-step rating scale. Room temperature, relative air humidity (RH) carbon dioxide (CO₂₎, PM10 and ultra-fine particles (UFP) were measured simultaneously (1 h). Illumination, air velocity, operative temperature, supply air temperature, formaldehyde, NO₂ and O₃ were measured. Multiple logistic regression was applied in cross-sectional analysis of the first answer (N = 355). Those participating twice (N = 121) were analysed longitudinally.

Results

Totally 31% were females, 2.9% smokers and 3.8% had asthma. Mean CO₂ was 993 ppm (674–1,450 ppm), temperature 22.7°C (20–25°C) and RH 24% (19–35%). Lower and higher air exchange rates corresponded to a personal outdoor airflow of 7 l/s*p and 10–13 L/s*P, respectively. Mean PM10 was 20 μg/m³ at lower and 15 μg/m³ at higher ventilation flow. Ocular, nasal and throat symptoms, breathlessness, headache and tiredness were significantly more common at higher CO₂ and temperature. After mutual adjustment, ocular (OR = 1.52 per 1°C), nasal (OR = 1.62 per 1°C) and throat symptoms (OR = 1.53 per 1°C), headache (OR = 1.51 per 1°C) and tiredness (OR = 1.54 per 1°C) were significantly associated with temperature; headache was associated only with CO₂ (OR = 1.19 per 100 ppm CO₂). Longitudinal analysis demonstrated that increased room temperature was related to tiredness (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Computer classrooms may have CO₂ above 1,000 ppm and temperatures above 22°C. Increased temperature and CO₂ may affect mucosal membrane symptoms, headaches and tiredness. Room temperature was most important. CO₂ associations may partly be temperature effects.

Apter A, Bracker A, Hodgson M, Sidman J, Leung WY (1994) Epidemiology of the sick building syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 94:277–288PubMed

ASHRAE. (1999) Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, Standard 62-1999, Atlanta, GA, American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers

Bakke JV, Moen BE, Wieslander G, Norbäck D (2007) Gender and the physical and psychosocial work environments are related to indoor air symptoms. J Occup Environ Med 49:641–650PubMedCrossRef

Bako-Biro Z, Wargocki P, Weschler CJ, Fanger PO (2004) Effects of pollution from personal computers on perceived air quality, SBS symptoms and productivity in offices. Indoor Air 14:178–187PubMedCrossRef

Branis M, Rezacova P, Domasova M (2005) The effect of outdoor air and indoor human activity on mass concentrations of PM(10), PM(2.5) and PM(1) in a classroom. Environ Res 99:143–149PubMedCrossRef

Daisey JM, Angell WJ, Apte MG (2003) Indoor air quality, ventilation and health symptoms in schools: an analysis of existing information. Indoor Air 13:53–64PubMedCrossRef

Ferm M, Svanberg P-A (1998) Cost-efficient techniques for urban- and background measurements of SO2 and NO2. Atmos Environ 32:1377–1381CrossRef

Ferm M (2001) Validation of a diffusive sampler for ozone in workplace atmospheres according to EN838. In: Proceedings of international conference measuring air pollutants by diffusive sampling, Montpellier, France, 26–28 September 2001, pp 298–303

Godish T, Spengler JD (1996) Relationships between ventilation and indoor air quality: a review. Indoor Air 6:135–145CrossRef

Hodgson M (1995) The sick-building syndrome. Occupational Medicine: State Art Rev 10:167–175

Kamijima M, Shibata E, Sakai K, Ohno H, Ishihara S, Yamada T, Takeuchi Y, Nakajima T (2005) Indoor air pollution due to 2-ethyl-1-hexanol airborne concentrations, emission sources and subjective symptoms in classroom users. Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi 52:1021–1031 (in Japanese with English abstract)PubMed

Lindgren T, Norbäck D, Andersson K (2006) Perception of the cockpit environment among pilots on commercial aircraft. Aviat Space Environ Med 77:832–837PubMed

Levin J-O, Lindahl R, Andersson K (1988) High performance liquid chromatographic determination of formaldehyde in indoor air in the ppb to ppm range using diffusive sampling and hydrazone formation. Environ Technol Lett 9:1423–1430

National Swedish Board of Occupational Safety, Health (2000) The design of the workplace AFS 2000;42 (in Swedish)

Neuner R, Seidel HJ (2006) Adaptation of office workers to a new building-impaired well-being as part of the sick-building-syndrome. Int J Hyg Environ Health 209:367–375PubMedCrossRef

Norbäck D, Lindgren T, Wieslander G (2006) Changes of ocular and nasal signs and symptoms in air crew, related to air humidification on intercontinental flights. Scand J Work Environ Health 32:138–144PubMed

Norbäck D, Wieslander G, Nordström K, Wålinder R, Venge P (2000) The effect of air humidification on symptoms and nasal patency, tear film stability, and biomarkers in nasal lavage. A six week longitudinal study. Indoor Built Environ 9:28–34CrossRef

Nordström K, Norbäck D, Akselsson R (1994) The effect of humidification on the Sick Building Syndrome and perceived indoor air quality in hospitals. A four months longitudinal study. Occup Environ Med 51:683–688PubMed

Palmgren U, Ström G, Blomqvist G, Malmberg P (1986) Collection of airborne micro-organisms on Nucleopore filters, estimation and analysis-CAMNEA method. J Appl Bacteriol 61:401–406PubMed

Reinikainen LM, Jaakkola JJK, Heinonen OP (1991) The effect of air humidification on different symptoms in office workers—an epidemiological study. Environ Int 17:243–250CrossRef

Reinikainen LM, Jaakola JJK, Seppänen O (1992) The effect of air humidification on symptoms and perception of indoor air quality in office workers: A 6-period cross-over trial. Arch Environ Health 47:8–15PubMedCrossRef

Reinikainen LM, Jaakkola JJK (2001) Effects of temperature and humidification in the office environment. Arch Environ Health 56:365–368PubMedCrossRef

Righi E, Aggazzotti G, Fantuzzi G, Ciccarese V, Predieri G (2002) Air quality and well-being perception in subjects attending university libraries in Modena (Italy). Sci Total Environ 286:41–50PubMedCrossRef

Seppänen OA, Fisk WJ (2004) Summary of human responses to ventilation. Indoor Air 14(Suppl 7):102–118PubMedCrossRef

Simoni M, Annesi-Maesano I, Sigsgaard T, Norback D, Wieslander G, Nystad W, Canciani M, Viegi G, Sestini P (2006) Relationships between school indoor environment and respiratory health in children of five European Countries (HESE study). Proceedings from 16th ERS Annual Congress. Eur Respir J 28(suppl 50):837

Smedje G, Norbäck D (2000) New ventilation systems at selected schools in Sweden—Effects on asthma and exposure. Arch Environ Health 55:18–25PubMed

Stenberg B, Wall S (1995) Why do women report “sick building symptoms” more often than men? Soc Sci Med 40:491–502PubMedCrossRef

Wargocki P, Sundell J, Bischof W, Brundrett G, Fanger PO, Gyntelberg F, Hanssen SO, Harrison P, Pickering A, Seppänen O, Wouters P (2002) Ventilation and health in non-industrial indoor environments: report from a European multidisciplinary scientific consensus meeting (EUROVENT). Indoor Air 2:113–128CrossRef

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional office for Europe. Air quality guidelines for Europe. WHO Regional Publications, European Series No 23, Copenhagen, 1987

World Health Organization (WHO) WHO air quality guidelines global update 2005. WHO; Geneva, 2005 (http://www.who.int/bookorders)

Wyon D (1992) Sick buildings and the experimental approach. Environ Technol 3:313–322CrossRef

Yura A, Iki M, Shimizu T (2005) Indoor air pollution in newly built or renovated elementary schools and its effect on health in children. Nippon Koshu Eisei Zhasshi 52:715–726 (in Japanese with English abstract)

Title: Sick building syndrome in relation to air exchange rate, CO2, room temperature and relative air humidity in university computer classrooms: an experimental study
Authors: Dan Norbäck
Klas Nordström
Publication date: 01-10-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 1/2008
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0301-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Sick building syndrome in relation to air exchange rate, CO₂, room temperature and relative air humidity in university computer classrooms: an experimental study

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2008

Visually-evoked P300 and NOGO potentials as indicators of central nervous system function in patients with vibration syndrome

Call-handlers’ working conditions and their subjective experience of work: a transversal study

Levels of 1-hydroxypyrene, symptoms and immunologic markers in vulcanization workers in the southern Sweden rubber industries

Persistent cognitive functioning deficits in operating rooms: two cases

The role of illness perceptions in labor participation of the chronically ill

Available instruments for measurement of psychosocial factors in the work environment