title: Exposure to formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and terpenes among office workers and associations with reported symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare exposure to formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and terpenes among office workers with and without sick building syndrome and the odds ratio for exposure. Are there significant differences?
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study of office workers, we investigated the associations between exposure to formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, α-pinene, and D-limonene using a case-control analysis. Data on perceived general, mucosal, and skin symptoms were obtained by questionnaires. Personal exposure measurements of the compounds were performed among cases and controls, and the odds ratios for exposures to the substances, both singly and in combination, were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposures varied for formaldehyde between 0.23 and 45 µg/m(3), nitrogen dioxide between 0.26 and 110 µg/m(3), ozone between <16 and 165 µg/m(3), α-pinene between 0.2 and 170 µg/m(3), and D-limonene between 0.8 and 1,400 µg/m(3). No consistent differences in exposure odds ratios were found between cases and controls or for individual symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, 901 85, Umeå, Sweden, bo.glas@dermven.umu.se.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glas
authors.forename: Berndt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stenberg
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stenlund
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sunesson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D013729:Terpenes; D005557:Formaldehyde; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide