SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS) IN OFFICE WORKERS AND FACIAL SKIN SYMPTOMS AMONG VDT-WORKERS IN RELATION TO BUILDING AND ROOM CHARACTERISTICS - 2 CASE-REFERENT STUDIES

In two case-referent studies the associations between questionnaire sy mptom reports, expressed as SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) in office wor kers or facial skin symptoms among VDT-workers, and physical data from offices in 160 buildings were investigated. The results show that low outdoor airflow rate and presence of certain pollution sources, such as copying machines, tended to be associated with an elevated prevalen ce of SBS. Buildings built or remodelled between 1977 and 1986, low-ri se buildings with a horizonal roof and a foundation of the type ''conc rete slab on the ground'', as well as rooms with flourescent tube ligh ting with metal shields were also associated with higher SBS risks. A number of factors were associated with an overrepresentation of skin s ymptoms among VDT-workers such as type of foundation (concrete slab on the ground and crawlspace), the frequency of floor cleaning and type of lighting (fluorescent tubes with glass/plastic shields). It has not been possible to establish conclusive explanations for these associat ions. The difference in associations between building factors and SBS, and between building factors and skin symptoms among VDT-workers poin ts to different etiologies.