Exposure to varying levels of contaminants and symptoms among workers in two office buildings.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that exposure to contaminants would be associated with symptoms reported by office workers.


METHODS
In two mechanically ventilated office buildings in. Montreal, the outdoor air supply was manipulated for 6 weeks, while symptoms were reported and environmental parameters were measured at multiple sites.


RESULTS
Contaminant concentrations varied considerably, in part related to experimental changes in outdoor air supply. Eye symptoms were reported with higher dust and with higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide. Mucosal symptoms were increased with higher TVOCs, higher nitrogen dioxide, and higher total contaminant load. Systemic symptoms were associated with higher dust levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms reported by the workers were associated with increased concentrations of several contaminants and a summary measure of all contaminants.
Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
D
D
Menzres
R M
RM
Tamblyn
F
F
Nunes
J
J
Hanley
R T
RT
Tamblyn
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires