Sick Buildings:Bad Air

English IV

10 Dec, 2000

Sick Buildings, Bad Air

Many people across the United States and other countries have been plagued with mysterious ailments after spending time in certain types of buildings. Buildings which rely on the mechanical recycling of air (with no fresh air intake) have been shown to create levels of contaminants, toxic gases, and other factors which cause conditions harmful to the human body. ‘Sick’ buildings are having adverse effects on our society.

People that spend time in these type buildings can immediately show allergy type symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, and irritability (Fairley 1). Other type symptoms a person might have after spending time in a ‘sick’ building might include burning and watering eyes, shortness of breath after mild exertion, hoarseness, cough, sore throat, muscle cramps, chronic fatigue, dry skin, pimples, inability to concentrate, nausea, swelling of the legs or arms, heart palpitations, nosebleeds, or tremors (Phog 2).

Toxins from a ‘sick’ building can enter the body through different manners. The toxins can be absorbed through inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. Although inhalation is the most common, some toxic materials can be absorbed by the skin or accidentally ingested. Since skin is permeable, toxic gases and liquids can be absorbed and distributed quickly into the blood stream. Methyl alcohol, for example, can be toxic by both inhalation and by absorption through the skin and is a primary component of shellac. Cuts and other abrasions can speed this process up as well as allow larger sized molecules such as bacteria and viruses access to the body and cause infection. Gases are absorbed by inhalation. It is difficult to determine the effects of mixed chemical exposures. There can be many variations in the body’s response to combinations of toxins depending on the chemical or physical interactions of the materials and the effect that one chemical may have on the metabolism or absorption of another. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one-third of the 70 million Americans who work indoors today are quarter in buildings that are the breeding ground for molds, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds (Savannah 1).

Classification of Effects goes as follows. Independent effect: Substances exert their own t...

... middle of paper ...

...r your illness. Many chemicals found every where in your home and work can contribute to the ‘sick’ building syndrome. All of the chemicals that harm you are invisible, you can’t see them, taste them, or even smell them. They will just harm you and strike with out warning. These are the many reasons why ‘sick’ buildings have such an adverse effect on our society.

Works Cited

Sick Building Syndrome: “The Phantom Phog” (12 Nov, 2000) http://www.presenting.net/sbs/sbs.html (1 Dec, 2000)

Sick Building Syndrome: The Law of Unintended Consequences Strikes http://realtytimes.com/rtnews/rtcmpages/19990114_sickbuilding1.htm (5 Dec, 2000)

“Robot named Monika tackles sick-buildings” ENN Daily News (14 May, 1997) http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/1997/05/051497/05149711.asp (1 Dec, 2000)

“Sick Buildings, Bad Air” Savannah Morning News (30 Dec, 2000) http://www.savannahmorningnews.com/smn/stories/123098/OPEDtwo.html (9 Dec, 2000)

“Sick-Building syndrome not a major issue” The Business News of Dayton (3 April,1998)

Fairly, Tom. Gislason, Stephen MD. Environmental Research Inc. (copyright 1983-2000) http://www.nutramed.com/envrionment/handbook.htm