Influences on sick building syndrome symptoms in three buildings

Relationships between symptoms typical of sick building syndrome, musculoskeletal symptoms, and reported indoor environmental exposures, psychological state, work stress and interpersonal relationships at work, were investigated among 624 office workers in three buildings. Symptom prevalences were similar in the three buildings, and were slightly lower in the two buildings characterized by its inhabitants as ‘sick’ than in the one building not considered to be ‘sick’. Women were more likely than were men to complain of most symptoms in all three buildings. Multiple regression showed psychological symptoms and sex to be significant independent predictors of symptoms. Reported odours, and uncomfortable humidity and temperature were also independently associated with symptoms. The study indicates that sex and psychological symptoms are important predictors of perceived building related illness.