The fact that we begin to show certain symptoms in the place where we live or work is usually associated with “sick building syndrome.” If you often feel sensitive where you are, but your symptoms decrease when you leave, you may have sick building syndrome.
Sick building syndrome, which has been progressively progressing since the 1970s, also known as building-dependent disease, can make our daily life unbearable by causing psycho-social risk factors such as anxiety and stress as well as physical symptoms.
sick building syndrome; In confined spaces, it is linked to the appearance of physical and psychological symptoms.
If you have sick building syndrome, you may feel sick by showing physical or psychological symptoms, usually while you are at work or at home.
You will notice that these symptoms begin to subside when you leave that confined space you are in. However, it is not possible to give a clear diagnosis to people who show symptoms.
Symptoms of sick building syndrome:
- Headache
- Eye, nose or throat ailments
- Cough
- dry or itchy skin
- dizziness
- Nausea
- concentration disorders
- Hypersensitivity to smell
- Shortness of breath
- General muscle-joint pain
- Anxiety, irritability or stress
Sick building syndrome can occur for many different reasons.
There are many different factors among the causes that play a role in the emergence of this syndrome. The energy crisis of the 1970s is among the main reasons why airtight buildings are built to save energy and reduce the cost of heating.
Increasingly large buildings, plazas, skyscrapers, towers and residences; Our living spaces, where we carry on our business and social life, paved the way for the emergence of this disease.
Maybe we are preparing the environment for physical factors.
In addition to poorly designed air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, indoor air pollutants (materials such as paint, carpet, flooring, adhesives or cleaning products, office supplies and machinery) can also cause sick building syndrome.
In addition to these, the outside air entering the building can also cause indoor air pollution. Contaminants from motor vehicle exhausts can enter your building through plumbing vents or building exhausts, poorly placed aspiration vents, windows or other openings.
The role of biological pollutants in sick building syndrome is undeniable.
Biological pollutants that cause building-dependent disease are; It can be listed as bacteria, mold, pollen and virus that can reproduce very easily.
According to a study, women have a higher incidence of sick building syndrome because they work in more unfavorable and unhealthy conditions.
Psycho-social factors such as workload-related stress may also be making you sick.
building-related illness; It may occur with psycho-social factors such as excessive workload, conflict in the work environment, position in the work hierarchy and emotional instability.
Briefly; If you work in an environment that is full of restlessness, mentally or physically very tiring, you cannot get along with your teammates and you do not feel happy, your probability of getting sick building syndrome increases.
So how do we prevent this sick building syndrome?
Within the scope of the regulations regarding the settlement plan; Paying attention to the office and home order, keeping the photocopiers away to avoid emissions, constructing buildings that comply with workplace regulations help to prevent sick building syndrome.
At the same time, it is very important to pay attention to cleanliness in the working environment, including rest rooms. Even keeping the sounds at appropriate levels, comfortable seats and an aesthetic decor in the environment play a role in the prevention of building-related syndrome.
When it comes to ventilation and lighting, ensuring the appropriate room temperature continuously, correct lighting, proper ventilation and fresh air intake, regular cleaning of carpets, flooring and pollutant sources are among the measures we can take to prevent building-related disease.
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