title: [The sick building syndrome].
abstract: The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) has been used for several years to describe a number of mostly unspecific complaints of some occupants of air-conditioned buildings. Based on the literature, a definition of the SBS is given and some results of larger SBS studies carried out in Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom are described. These studies show that SBS is a multifactorial event which may include physical, chemical, biological as well as psychological factors. In many cases, the occurrence of SBS in a building is due to insufficient maintenance of the HVAC system. SBS-induced investigations in a building should be carried out stepwise, the measurement of indoor air pollutants not being the first step. Strategies to avoid SBS must take into account factors specific to the building, the HVAC system and the equipment as well as psychological factors.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Wasser-, Boden- und Lufthygiene des Bundesgesundheitsamtes, Berlin-Dahlem.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
vernacular_title: Das "sick building"-Syndrom.