Objective To explore the relationship between selected office environment and prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS).
Methods The selected offices were divided into two groups depending on whether a centralized airconditioning system (CACS) was installed or not. The indoor air quality in these offices was detected. A five personal symptom in dices system (5-PSI, including dryness or ache of eye, stuffy nose, dryness or ache of throat, headache and weariness feeling) were used to identify SBS. The relationship between SBS and indoor air quality was also analyzed.
Results Ammonia, noise and humidity and fresh air volume were the critical determinants of indoor air quality in the offices with CACS. Formaldehyde, ammonia, noise, temperature and illumination were the critical determinants of indoor air quality in the offices without CACS. The prevalence of SBS in the office buildings with and without CACS were 13.2% and 10.2% respectively. Weariness, dryness or ache of eye, dryness of skin, headache and sore throat were the 5 leading symptoms in each category.
Conclusion The ambient temperature, ambient humidity and volume of fresh air in office buildings are the main influencing factors of SBS.
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