Environmental as Significant Factor In Sick Building Syndrome

LONDON - British researchers writing in the April issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found some unexpected results in their study of sick building syndrome, including the significant role played by psychological and social factors (Occup Environ Med 2006;63:283-289. Doi: 10.1136).

"'Sick building syndrome' may be a misnomer - raised symptom levels appear to be largely due to a working environment characterized by poor psychosocial conditions," the study's authors reported.

They also concluded that, for ordinary conditions anyway, workers' physical environment had less effect on self-reported symptoms than did the psychosocial work environment. That environment included an ability to control …