The US Environmental Protection Agency describe Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) as “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified”. The World Health Organization (WHO), recognises SBS as symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to smell, eye, nose and throat irritations and nausea are common to this illness. Often symptoms of SBS are worse if a building is new or has been refurbished or renovated (US EPA, 2008).

The main causes of SBS are:

• Inadequate ventilation caused by insufficient outside air, poor planning, overcrowdingand positioning of vents, dirt buildup in heating and cooling vents, ducts and filters.
• Chemical contaminants from indoor sources such as building materials including carpets, adhesives and manufactured wood products; cleaning products, combustion products from gas appliances and particulates from gas stoves and heaters; and fireplaces.
• Chemical contaminants from outdoors such as vehicle exhausts, pesticides and local industry.
• Biological contaminants such as mould, pollen, viruses and bacteria. These contaminants breed in your home or workplace given the right environments such as stagnant water in
• Other such as temperature, humidity, lighting, excessive noise, ergonomic conditions and, psychosocial stress (NIOSH, 1997) (US EPA, 2008)
• EKO Building Biology can assess your building to see if you are at risk of sick building syndrome and we can make recommendations on how to renovate using safe non toxic materials and finishes.

• NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), 1997,  Facts, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), online available @ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ieqfs.html
• US EPA (EnvironmentalProtection Agency) , 2008, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Indoor Air Facts No 4 (revised) Sick Building Syndrome http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html#Causes%20of%20Sick%20Building%20Syndrome