Sick building syndrome and poor indoor air quality

Sick building syndrome (SBS) and related health problems are associated with poor indoor air quality. It comprises various nonspecific symptoms that occur in occupants of a building. Although air quality is often a concern in institutional buildings such as offices, hospitals and schools, indoor air quality is also a concern in your home.

It’s important to note that mold is not the only contaminant affecting indoor air quality and causing sick building syndrome. As Health Canada states, carbon monoxide and radon are also implicated.

However, mold is clearly one of the factors. If you or family members are suffering from any of the following symptoms, please have your home investigated for indoor pollutants including mold, carbon monoxide and radon.

Sick building syndrome symptoms

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments (a syndrome) associated with an individual’s place of work (typically, but not always, an office building), though there have also been instances of SBS in residential buildings. A 1984 World Health Organization report into the syndrome suggested up to 30% of new and re-modelled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_building_syndrome).

Sick building syndrome symptoms may include:

• Burning and watering eyes and nose
• Burning in trachea
• Cancer
• Chronic fatigue
• Fibromyalgia (muscle cramps and joint pain)
• Dizziness
• Dry, itchy skin
• Exhaustion after normal activity
• Headaches
• Heart Palpitations
• Hoarseness, cough, sore throat
• Inability to concentrate
• Itchy granulomous pimples
• Miscarriages & pregnancey problems
• Nausea
• Nosebleeds
• Sensitivity to odors
• Serious edema (swelling of legs, trunk, ankles)
• Shortness of breath upon mild exertion (e.g. walking)
• Tremors
• Wellness When Away From Building

If you see mold anywhere in your home, have it identified and cleaned up, and remove the conditions that allowed it to start in the first place. Identifying it is easy and affordable with our visible mold test kit.

And, if you don’t see any mold and you’re experiencing sick building syndrome, you can check the quality of your home’s indoor air with our mold air quality test kit.