HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in AJPH Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mendell, M J Articles by Smith, A H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mendell, M J Articles by Smith, A H

Consistent pattern of elevated symptoms in air-conditioned office buildings: a reanalysis of epidemiologic studies.

M J Mendell and A H Smith

Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley.

Published studies of the relation between type of building ventilation system and work-related symptom prevalence in office workers have been contradictory. A reanalysis was performed of six studies meeting specific eligibility criteria, combining published data with unpublished information obtained from study authors. Five eligible studies were from the United Kingdom, and one was from Denmark. Standardized categories of building ventilation type were created to allow comparison of effects across studies. Within each study, prevalence odds ratios (PORs) were calculated for symptoms in each ventilation category relative to a baseline category of naturally ventilated buildings. Air-conditioned buildings were consistently associated with increased prevalence of work-related headache (POR = 1.3-3.1), lethargy (POR = 1.4-5.1), and upper respiratory/mucus membrane symptoms (POR = 1.3-4.8). Humidification was not a necessary factor for the higher symptom prevalence associated with air-conditioning. Mechanical ventilation without air-conditioning was not associated with higher symptom prevalence. The consistent associations found between type of building ventilation and reported symptom prevalence have potentially important public health and economic implications.

Related articles in AJPH:

The sick building syndrome: where is the epidemiologic basis?

K Kreiss
AJPH 1990 80: 1172-1173. [PDF]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Rashid and C. Zimring A Review of the Empirical Literature on the Relationships Between Indoor Environment and Stress in Health Care and Office Settings: Problems and Prospects of Sharing Evidence Environment and Behavior, March 1, 2008; 40(2): 151 - 190. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. R. Perez, N. J. Zimmerman, and Z. Berhane Evaluation of Culturable Particle Load on HVAC Filters Before and After Remediation: A Pilot Study Indoor and Built Environment, December 1, 2006; 15(6): 525 - 533. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Chaiear, N. Saejiw, S. Dithisawatwet, P. Polpila, K. Paratako, and K. Chuntum The Discovery of an Unusual Cause of Indoor Radiation Pollution Asia Pac J Public Health, June 1, 2006; 18(2): 46 - 50. [PDF]

				A F Marmot, J Eley, M Stafford, S A Stansfeld, E Warwick, and M G Marmot Building health: an epidemiological study of "sick building syndrome" in the Whitehall II study. Occup. Environ. Med., April 1, 2006; 63(4): 283 - 289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Newman, C. S. Rose, E. A. Bresnitz, M. D. Rossman, J. Barnard, M. Frederick, M. L. Terrin, S. E. Weinberger, D. R. Moller, G. McLennan, et al. A Case Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis: Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2004; 170(12): 1324 - 1330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J Mendell Commentary: Air conditioning as a risk for increased use of health services Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2004; 33(5): 1123 - 1126. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P Preziosi, S Czernichow, P Gehanno, and S Hercberg Workplace air-conditioning and health services attendance among French middle-aged women: a prospective cohort study Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2004; 33(5): 1120 - 1123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P S Burge Sick building syndrome Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2004; 61(2): 185 - 190. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Graudenz, J. Kalil, P. H. Saldiva, W. Gambale, M. d. R. D. O. Latorre, and F. F. Morato-Castro Upper Respiratory Symptoms Associated With Aging of the Ventilation System in Artificially Ventilated Offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil* Chest, August 1, 2002; 122(2): 729 - 735. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Menzies and J. Bourbeau Building-Related Illnesses N. Engl. J. Med., November 20, 1997; 337(21): 1524 - 1531. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. W. Hoge, M. R. Reichler, E. A. Dominguez, J. C. Bremer, T. D. Mastro, K. A. Hendricks, D. M. Musher, J. A. Elliott, R. R. Facklam, and R. F. Breiman An Epidemic of Pneumococcal Disease in an Overcrowded, Inadequately Ventilated Jail N. Engl. J. Med., September 8, 1994; 331(10): 643 - 648. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Rolloos HVAC Systems and Indoor Air Quality Indoor and Built Environment, July 1, 1993; 2(4): 204 - 212. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Dahlqvist and R. Alexandersson Acute Pulmonary Function Impairment in School Staff Working in a 'Sick Building': A Pilot Study Indoor and Built Environment, May 1, 1993; 2(3): 179 - 185. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Kreiss The Sick Building Syndrome in Office Buildings -- A Breath of Fresh Air N. Engl. J. Med., March 25, 1993; 328(12): 877 - 878. [Full Text]

				R. L. Hanson, B. Dolphin, and D. K. Parkinson Does Contamination of 'Fresh' Air Intake Cause Some Cases of Building Intolerance? Indoor and Built Environment, January 1, 1993; 2(1): 19 - 25. [Abstract] [PDF]