Journal Top Ten -- COLUMNS- Mold -- April 2006

1

ARTICLE: "Building health: an epidemiological study of "sick building syndrome" in the Whitehall II study"

SUMMARY: This study explores the role and significance of the physical and psychosocial work environment in explaining Sick building syndrome (SBS). Cross sectional data on the physical environment of a selection of buildings were added to individual data from the Whitehall II study-an ongoing health survey of office based civil servants. Positive (non-significant) relations were found only with airborne bacteria, inhalable dust, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, and having some control over the local physical environment. Greater effects were found with …