Sick building syndrome refers to ailments that occur as a result of spending long periods of time in well-sealed, poorly ventilated buildings that contain indoor air toxins. In 1984, the World Health Organization reported that the materials used in up 30% of newly built buildings might cause acute illness. [1] That means that, as of 1984, almost a third of all buildings were contaminated with harmful products! Unfortunately, with the continued use of synthetic building materials, the situation has only gotten worse.
Toxins present in "sick" buildings include synthetic fibers from furniture, formaldehyde, dust mites, cigarette smoke, and VOCs, just to name a few. It's not limited to chemical pollution, either. According to the American Phytopathological Society, biological contaminants such as mold and pollen also contribute to indoor air pollution. [2]
Common symptoms of sick building syndrome include headache, irritated throat, itchy eyes and nose, coughing, nausea, and fatigue. As you can see, the symptoms are generic and varied, which makes it especially difficult to pinpoint sick building syndrome as the cause. One of the most problematic issues related to sick building syndrome is that it often goes misdiagnosed and untreated. Many people assume their illness is the result of a "bug" and fail to consider their home or workplace is the cause. A telltale sign are ailments that flare up when you are in a specific building and pass after you leave. Another indication is if your colleagues experience similar issues.
If your symptoms are prolonged, even beyond leaving the building, this may be an indication you're suffering from building-related illness, or BRI. To avoid suffering from BRI, it is important to recognize the symptoms of sick building syndrome and address them quickly.
If you think your home or office may be causing sick building syndrome, you need to improve the quality within. Once the building stops giving off toxins, your symptoms should go away. Sometimes this is easier said than done, and, depending on the scale of the concern, might require a massive renovation and replacement of toxic building materials with non-toxic replacements.
In some situations, an air purification system or even quick and simple methods may work. Nature has very powerful tools to clean the air. The natural negative ionization and UV waves from sunlight work wonders and opening the blinds to let in some rays is an easy way to reap those benefits. Additionally, open the windows and doors and let the ozone and negative ions help remove toxins from the air.
Avoid toxic room sprays and deodorizers. There are natural alternatives for air fresheners, cleansers and other chemical toxins used to cleanse the home. Live plants can absorb toxins right from the air! Good choices of plants are peace lilies, golden pothos, and dracaenas.
Introduction In recent decades, more and more of us have realized the value of adopting…
Introduction Each and every day, your body is exposed to toxic heavy metals. These metals…
Introduction It’s no secret that your body needs calcium. After all, without enough calcium, you…
Introduction If you haven’t put the incredible health benefits of boron to work for you,…
Introduction While most of us know the benefits of taking supplements like Vitamin D3 or…
Introduction Have you heard about activated charcoal but aren’t really sure what it and how…