Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome of Workers in a New Hospital Building

Abstract

New buildings may be a source of air pollution affecting the health of workers in the building. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to assess the indoor air quality as well as the relationship between air quality parameters and the prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms among workers in a new building, 768-bed general hospital. Indoor air quality assessments including temperature, relative humidity, and airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations were investigated  in 15 areas using an air quality monitor and air microbial sampler. Symptom  data were collected using questionnaires from 113 workers. The results showed that temperature, relative humidity, and airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations exceeded the allowance (100.0%, 99.3%, 100.0% and 40.0%, respectively). Indoor temperatures had a statistically significant positive correlation with airborne fungal concentrations (r = 0.540, p-value <0.050). Most workers had work period in the building of less than 8 hours/day (61.9%), minority wore respiratory protective equipment while working (54.9%), and most workers reported experiencing sick building syndrome symptoms (84.9%). The most common symptom experienced was headache (61.9%). Airborne bacterial concentrations were associated with the syndrome, eye, and skin symptoms being statistically significant (p-value = 0.050). These findings indicate that indoor air quality problems may lead to sick building syndrome among workers. Therefore, regular assessments of indoor air quality and worker health should be performed.