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What are the Triggers of Sick Building Syndrome?

Exploring the Chemical, Biological, and Structural Factors Behind Indoor Environmental Illness

Cleaning supplies and commercial products that emit volatile organic compounds indoors

For any given case of sick building syndrome (SBS), the trigger can be exceptionally hard to pinpoint. In fact, the mystery is part of the very definition of the syndrome. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines SBS as “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.”

However, this much is certain: SBS symptoms—including headaches, nausea, fatigue, itchy skin, throat irritation, watery eyes, and impaired concentration—are linked directly to exposure to both chemical and biological indoor contaminants.

Science has not yet identified specific measurements of indoor contaminants that put workers at risk, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is likely that different varieties and concentrations of pollutants affect individuals in unique ways.

For one building occupant, gases emanating from cleaning products or new hallway carpeting may cause nausea; for another, it may be cooking odors from the facility cafeteria. What is minor to one person can be debilitating to another. Nonetheless, research has identified the most common SBS sources.

Chemical Contaminants: The Threat of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Thanks to workplace smoking bans and lower smoking rates, tobacco toxins have become less prevalent. However, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remain a massive threat in office buildings and educational facilities.

VOCs are toxic gases emitted by the materials we walk on, sit on, wear, and use daily—including carpets, desks, shelving, upholstery, adhesives, copy machines, and personal products like shampoos, perfumes, lotions, and hand sanitizers. Products do not need to be heavily scented or emit obvious odors to trigger symptoms; cosmetics and cleaning supplies labeled "unscented" often contain masking chemicals.

Indoor concentrations of VOCs are frequently 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. In urban areas, new research shows that these chemical compounds contribute just as much to overall air pollution as vehicular traffic.

Biological Contaminants and Outdoor Pollution Sources

VOCs are not the only toxins circulating through "sick" buildings. A wide range of biological and environmental pollutants exacerbate the syndrome:

  • Biological Pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, mold spores, dust mites, insect droppings, and pollen frequently accumulate in ventilation systems and indoor spaces.
  • Outdoor Pollutant Infiltration: Approximately 11% of indoor contaminants—such as vehicle exhaust, construction fumes, and outdoor smoke—drift inward through building vents, doors, and windows.

Structural Vulnerabilities: The Legacy of Tight Building Design

Just as individual occupants vary in susceptibility, buildings themselves differ based on construction era. Sick building syndrome dates back to building construction changes following the 1973 oil embargo.

To conserve heating and cooling fuel, building codes slashed ventilation standards by two-thirds, requiring a minimal 5 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outside air per occupant, effectively sealing buildings tightly shut.

While modern U.S. building codes typically require 20 cfm per person, many older facilities remain unupgraded, and global standards vary widely. Furthermore, research indicates that ventilation rates would need to exceed 53 cfm per person to entirely eliminate SBS symptoms.

However, ventilation alone cannot solve the crisis when buildings are cleaned with VOC-emitting chemicals, carpeted with synthetic materials, or contaminated by mold within aging HVAC ductwork.

Solutions for Sick Building Syndrome

Indoor environments are highly complex, exposing occupants to a mixture of chemical and biological pollutants from numerous sources. Fortunately, technology has advanced to the point where targeted air purification can effectively rid indoor spaces of diverse pollutants—from nausea-inducing gases to allergy-triggering pollen.

Plasma Air whole-building purification solutions provide an effective, scalable remedy to neutralize indoor contaminants and restore healthy, breathable indoor environments.

Sources & References

  1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (via Camfil). Indoor Air Facts No. 4: Sick Building Syndrome. Camfil Clean Air Guide. Read guide.
  2. Science. Volatility of Intermediate-Volatility Organic Compounds in Urban Air Pollution. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Read study.
  3. Environmental Advisory Council. White Paper on Indoor Air Quality and Building Ventilation Standards. EAC. Read report.
  4. U.S. Department of State. The 1973 Oil Embargo and Energy Crisis Milestones. Office of the Historian. Read history.