Indoor air quality and health problems associated with the indoor air environment have recently attracted increasing publicity in Australia and elsewhere. Poor air quality in offices, for example, can result in a spectrum of symptoms in workers which together are commonly called ‘sick building syndrome’ but more properly should be called ‘building-related illness’. Objective criteria for diagnoses are often difficult to find and the cost in increased absenteeism and reduced productivity is considerable. This paper describes a multidisciplinary approach to the problem involving medical, environmental, microbiological and psychosocial aspects to study workplaces with reported building-related illness. A major part of this was a self-administered questionnaire whose formulation was based on similar questionnaires used in other countries but adapted for the Australian situation. Parameters for indoor air quality were measured, including both physical and microbiological factors. Correlations were tested, using a commercial statistical software package, between perceptions about air quality, symptoms, mental health and air quality measurements. The investigative methods have to date been tested in three fairly large workplaces with approximately 500 occupants. Our experiences with the methods used, including advantages and drawbacks, are discussed and conclusions drawn.

Keywords:
Sick building syndrome, Building-related health problems, Indoor air quality, Study methods
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1995
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