Sick Building Syndrome: What It Is & How To Protect Your Space

Over the past two decades, the prevalence of chronic disease in the United States has grown by a steady 7 to 8 million1 people every five years. Today, chronic disease affects 50% of the population, and its care consumes more than 85% of health care costs. This situation has truly become an epidemic. But how is this possible if we have better access to food, water, and medical technology than ever before?

According to the EPA2, sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which people develop symptoms of illness or become infected with chronic disease as a result of exposure to contaminants and poor indoor air quality in buildings. These environments can include our homes, workplaces, schools, and more. Basically, anywhere that we spend a lot of time.

In the 1970s, when Richard Nixon was president, we were dealing with an energy crisis, leading to the energy efficiency revolution. Since then, homes have been built tighter and tighter. This means less airflow between indoor and outdoor environments, resulting in less dilution of the air and more contaminants trapped inside. With every breath we take, those contaminants continue to enter our bodies and build up.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness and consideration for SBS has led to an increasing number of individuals affected. Oftentimes, they have no idea that their indoor environments are what's contributing to their chronic health issues. This has to change.

It will take a collaborative effort to address this worldwide health problem, and it won't happen overnight. That's why awareness is so crucial. The more you know about SBS, the greater your chances of avoiding unwanted exposures.

Chronic symptoms with seemingly no underlying cause can be a sign of SBS. Some of the common symptoms include irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat; dry cough; itchy skin; fatigue; reduced memory or concentration; brain fog; headache; dizziness; nausea; and sensitivity to taste.

Unfortunately, many medical professionals don't necessarily consider environmental exposures, so these chronic symptoms can be tricky to assign a root cause. Symptoms can also vary widely from person to person. Various factors play a role, including the types of contaminants present, the volume of contamination, genetics, and immune system health.

Sometimes, you can visibly see when something is amiss in a building that could be causing it to make you feel unwell. If you see any of these signs, they need to be addressed as soon as possible: visible mold growth, water damage, strong odors, and structural issues and/or damage.

Using an indoor air quality monitor is a good way to begin actively understanding and improving the air in our indoor environments.

These devices work by measuring the amount of pollution in the air. Some of the common elements they measure include particulate matter (PM), radon, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.

Learning more about strategies and methods to identify potential issues and improve our indoor space is one of the best ways we can protect our health. To help, my organization is hosting the 2023 Change the Air Foundation Summit on September 18. This free virtual summit is dedicated to empowering the world to achieve better health by addressing the impact of water damage, mold, and other pollutants on indoor air quality.

If you believe you're suffering from SBS, work with a qualified medical professional who will assist in detoxing those contaminants from the body. Not all professionals are familiar with helping individuals heal from environmental exposures, so find someone who will listen and work with you to heal.