(ENVE 556)

Spring 2022
Dr. Christy M. Dykstra
cdykstra@sdsu.edu
Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illness
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
“Situations in which building occupants experience
acute health and comfort effects that appear to be
linked to time spent in a building, but no specific
illness or cause can be identified. The complaints
may be localized in a particular room or zone, or
may be widespread throughout the building.”
• Building occupants complain of symptoms
associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache;
eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy
skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in
concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
• The cause of the symptoms is not known.
• Most of the complainants report relief soon after
leaving the building.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/sick_building_factsheet.pdf
Building Related Illness (BRI)
“Symptoms of diagnosable illness are
identified and can be attributed directly to
airborne building contaminants.”
• Building occupants complain of
symptoms such as cough; chest tightness;
fever, chills; and muscle aches.
• The symptoms can be clinically defined
and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Complainants may require prolonged
recovery times after leaving the building.
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Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illness
Causes
• Inadequate ventilation
• Chemical contaminants from indoor sources
• Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources
• Biological contaminants

Note: “SBS and BRI are associated with acute or immediate health problems; radon and asbestos cause long-term
diseases which occur years after exposure, and are therefore not considered to be among the causes of sick
buildings. This is not to say that the latter are not serious health risks; both should be included in any
comprehensive evaluation of a building's IAQ.”

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/sick_building_factsheet.pdf 3
Indoor vs. Outdoor Air

“Ambient” (outdoor) air differs from indoor air for two important reasons:
1. Legal: Indoor air is private property and not subject to federal
regulations that pertain to outdoor air

Who regulates what we breathe indoors?

• Workplaces: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
• Private homes: Typically only regulated when being sold, may only require a
disclosure to potential buyers

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Indoor vs. Outdoor Air

“Ambient” (outdoor) air differs from indoor air for two important reasons:
2. Technical: Pollutants, sources, and dispersion behavior can be quite
different between ambient and indoor air

Indoor Pollutants of Concern:

• O3 • PM-2.5
• NO2 • SO2
• CO • VOCs

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Mass Balance for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Simple box model of a well-mixed room

𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝑰𝒏 − 𝑶𝒖𝒕 ± 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝑽𝒅𝑪𝒊𝒏
= 𝑸𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒕 − 𝑸𝑪𝒊𝒏 + 𝑺 − 𝒌𝑪𝒊𝒏 𝑽
𝒅𝒕 Rxn

V = volume of the room, m3

Cin = indoor conc. of pollutant (µg/m3)
Cout = conc. of the pollutant in the outside air (µg/m3)
Q = ventilation rate (m3/hr)
S = source emission rate inside the room (µg/hr)
k = first order removal reaction rate constant (hr-1)

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Mass Balance for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Steady-state concentration indoors

𝑺
𝑨𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒕 +
𝑪𝒊𝒏,𝒔𝒔 = 𝑽
𝑨+𝒌
Rxn

Cin,ss = steady-state indoor conc. of pollutant (µg/m3)

A = Q/V = air exchange rate (air changes per hour, ach)
Cout = conc. of the pollutant in the outside air (µg/m3)
S = source emission rate inside the room (µg/hr)
V = volume of the room, m3
k = first order removal reaction rate constant (hr-1)

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Mass Balance for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Indoor concentration at a time, t

−𝒕ൗ −𝒕ൗ
𝑪𝒊𝒏 = 𝑪𝒊𝒏,𝒔𝒔 𝟏 − 𝒆 𝝉 + 𝑪𝟎 𝒆 𝝉

Rxn

Cin,ss = steady-state indoor conc. of pollutant (µg/m3)

t = time (hr)
1
τ = characteristic time = 𝑄 (hr)
𝑉
+𝑘
C0 = initial indoor conc. of the pollutant (µg/m3)

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Assigned Reading for this Section

Chapter 21