Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe a range of symptoms associated with spending time in a certain buildings (especially old buildings), most often a workplace. Although no specific cause can be found, some factors can be thought of as the culprits including poor ventilation, low humidity, high temperature or even changes in temperature throughout the day. Airborne particles, such as dust, carpet fibers or fungal spores are also considered.
The most qualified person to tackle issues of old house syndrome is an Industrial hygienist and not the maintenance supervisor (Alliant Insurance Services, 2017) . The maintenance supervisor is mainly concerned with overseeing and coordinating the workers who maintain and repair electrical, plumbing, ventilation and other building systems. On the other hand, an industrial hygienist is responsible for identifying, assessing and controlling health hazards in the workplace. They possess in-depth knowledge of how chemical, physical and biological agents may affect the health of the workforce and, in turn, the health of the business. This shows that an Industrial Hygienist is the most qualified to tackle issues concerning sick building syndrome.
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There are regulations put in place to evaluate the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and identify the contaminant by air sampling. Firstly, a cause and effect relationship is established between the symptoms and IAQ. Secondly, the cause of the complaints is identified so that appropriate corrective measures can be initiated. A walk-through inspection of the problems areas are then conducted and information on the occupants collected. Moreover, information on the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) for pollution pathways is also collected, and possible contamination sources noted (Joshi, 2008) . These regulations are important in determining the cause of the sick building syndrome. They also aid in assessing the risk levels so as to advice the building occupants accordingly. This has gone a long way in helping building owners come up with prevention and control techniques so as to make their buildings more habitable and less risky.
In addressing the situation, the Industrial Hygienist should first do a walk-through inspection to look for sources of contamination such as photocopiers and insulation and cleaning materials.This is so as to identify the source of the contaminants in the building. Temperature, humidity, air movement among other comfort parameters are then assessed for the presence of the contaminants. This is important in determining whether the risk is still there and therefore the IH will know how to conduct the investigations safely without falling prey to the contaminants. Then the IH should measure carbon dioxide to assess the ventilation efficiency. Ventilation safety is useful since it shows whether the contaminants have an effective route to be dispelled hence reducing their concentration levels in air.
After that, the IH should conduct measurement of parameters such as formaldehyde levels, carbon monoxide content, ozone and respirable particles. These are usually the main culprits in the case of respiratory irritation and other respiratory conditions related to air pollution in the building. Lastly, a follow-up examination of the ventilation system for causes of poor distribution, including tests for biological organisms in any water in the system is also carried out. Water is a very notorious vehicle for ferrying contaminants hence its safety levels should be ascertained.
With regards to the complaints made by the tenants of Clearwater building, mold and mildew are the agents to blame for the occupant’s sick building syndrome. The musky smell, which in lay terms is "moldy odor," is usually associated with fungi. Molds are present everywhere, and can grow on almost any surface when moisture is present. They reproduce by means of spores, which are carried by air currents. When spores land on a moist surface convenient for life, they begin to grow. Because commonly used building materials are capable of supporting mold growth and mold spores are omnipresent, mold growth found in an indoor environment is typically related to water and moisture levels. Furthermore, flooding, leaky roofs, building-maintenance or indoor-plumbing problems can also lead to interior mold growth. In many instances, water vapor commonly condenses on surfaces cooler than the moisture-laden air, enabling mold to thrive.
Mold is mostly detectable by smell and can grow in places invisible to the human eye. It can be found behind wallpapers or paneling, on the inside surface of ceiling tiles, the back of drywall, or the underside of carpets or carpet padding. Piping found in walls may also be a source of mold, since they may leak hence causing moisture condensation.
Headaches, including migraines, are common mold and mildew sickness symptoms. Exposure to household mold can often trigger a headache or migraine for many reasons. Sometimes they usually occur as a consequence of an allergic reaction to mold spores floating in the air (Hevesi, 2003) . Sometimes the headaches are a result of sinus pressure caused by a sinus infection or inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal and sinus cavities, which is a common symptom of mold exposure. Sometimes it also could be a response to toxic substances called mycotoxins which are mostly produced by some types of mold.
In conclusion, sick building syndrome is an occurrence whose cause and prevention measures are not privy to most building owners. Thus building owners should employ the services of an Industrial Hygienist to assess the safety levels of a building before occupancy and also to get the required information on how to tackle the phenomena.
References
Alliant Insurance Services. (2017). Discover Industrial Hygiene . Retrieved November 17, 2017, from American Industrial Hygiene Association: https://www.aiha.org/ABOUT-IH/Pages/default.aspx
Hevesi, D. (2003, March 23). The Turmoil Over Mold in Buildings . Retrieved November 17, 2017, from Real Estate: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/23/realestate/the-turmoil-over-mold-in-buildings.html
Joshi, S. M. (2008, August). The sick building syndrome. NCBI, 12 (2), 61-64.
