Indoor-air quality and ocular discomfort.
BACKGROUND
Almost 25 million workers in 1.2 million commercial buildings in the United States have symptoms of sick building syndrome (SBS). It is a source of ocular discomfort and may exacerbate the successful wear of contact lenses. This study examines the relationship between SBS and oculovisual discomfort.


METHODS
Measurements of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, temperature, and humidity were performed in 12 public office buildings that contained a total of 877 occupants. A questionnaire survey of the occupants was also performed.


RESULTS
Thirty-five percent of the occupants of the buildings were dissatisfied with the indoor-air quality. Twenty-nine percent of the office building occupants reported ocular discomfort.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant correlation between eye irritation, throat irritation, and symptoms of blurred near vision. Ocular discomfort could be an indicator of poor indoor-air quality and a sick building syndrome.
Backman
H
H
Pierrefonds Medical Centre, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Haghighat
F
F
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D003261:Contact Lenses; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D015994:Incidence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013696:Temperature
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde