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Sick building syndrome: Are UK libraries affected?
Symbiosis of Human and Artifact Y. Anzai, K. Ogawa and H. Mori (Editors) © 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
587
Sick b u i l d i n g syndrome: are UK libraries affected? A. Morris and P. Dennison Department of Information and Library Studies, Loughborough University of Technology Loughborough, Leicestershire L E l l 3TU, United Kingdom
Abstract Sick building syndrome is characterised by occupants of a particular building suffering from a range of symptoms which may include eye, nose and throat irritations, dry skin, headaches, coughs, wheezing, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, hypersensitivity and erythema. This paper discusses the results of a survey which examined the evidence and possible causes of sick building syndrome in libraries. The findings suggests that sick building syndrome exists in libraries and that airconditioned libraries are more likely to be affected than those that are naturally ventilated.
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N Building sickness is "recognised by the World Health Organisation as a syndrome of complaints covering non-specific feelings of malaise, the onset of which is associated with occupancy of certain modern buildings". (1) In 1983 the World Health Organisation listed the symptoms characterising sick building syndrome. They include eye, nose and throat irritations, dry skin, headaches, coughs, wheezing, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, hypersensitivity and erythema.(2) All of these symptoms are commonplace in the general population but it is the pattern of their expression that points to the diagnosis of sick building syndrome. In sick building syndrome symptoms are associated with being in a particular building and are relieved by leaving or staying away from that building. Research investigating sick building syndrome in offices indicates that: air-conditioned buildings are likely to be more affected than naturally ventilated buildings (3) •
women are more prone to the syndrome than men (4) clerical workers are more prone to the syndrome than professional or managerial staff (4) workers who perceive their workplace to be hot and stuffy and the air to be humid and stale report more health problems (5).
588 Pinpointing specific causes of building sickness is difficult because the symptoms reported are often non-specific and diverse, not all employees in a 'sick' building are affected, and causes appear to vary from building to building. Nevertheless, it is generally thought that the main cause of sick building syndrome is physical, and it is probably caused by the presence of air-borne volatile organic compounds plus interactions with other physical factors such as ventilation, humidity and temperature (6). Psychological factors such as stress may also contribute to the perception of a building being 'sick'. Most of the research to-date has been carried out on office buildings and office workers. No research known to the authors has been undertaken to establish whether sick building syndrome also affects libraries. The research summarised here aims to address this issue.
2. M E T H O D O L O G Y A questionnaire was distributed to the managers of all 147 academic libraries in the United Kingdom. In addition, the questionnaire was sent to the manager in a sample of 79 public libraries. The questionnaire was divided into four main sections: general information; library building; library environment, and staff health. Space for other comments was also available. The general information section asked basic questions about the type of library and the number of full-time and part-time female and male staff. The library building section contained questions about the age of the building, whether it was air-conditioned and, if so, if the system was maintained, whether windows could be opened, the type of lighting and if staff had control of the lighting levels. Questions in the library environment section asked the librarians to rate air temperature, freshness and humidity and also environmental comfort. In addition they were asked if their staff experienced draughts and if they had control over the air temperature and air-conditioning levels in the library. The remaining questions, in the section on staff health, asked for information about absenteeism rates, if staff lei~ work early because of illness and if staff complained about a number of symptoms including eye, nose, skin and throat problems, lethargy, headaches, flu-like symptoms, breathing problems, nausea or reduced memory. The general area being examined was referred to both on the questionnaire and in the accompanying covering letter as 'environmental conditions in libraries' rather than 'sick building syndrome'. It was felt that the latter term might possibly alarm library managers and compromise the number of respondents due to the fear of their library building being labelled as 'sick'.
589
3. R E S U L T S The most important results are briefly summarised below:
3.1 General information the overall response rate was 69%; 114 from academic libraries and 43 from public libraries no significant differences were found between the responses of managers of public and academic libraries 3.2 T y p e of l i b r a r y building •
24% of all the libraries were air-conditioned
•
68% were built between the late '60s and early '80s.
3.3 Library environment there was no difference in the perception of air temperature and air humidity between managers in air-conditioned and naturally ventilated libraries managers in naturally ventilated libraries rated their environment higher (more comfortable) and their air to be fresher than those working in airconditioned libraries 58% of managers thought their library was draughty. Surprisingly, managers of nine libraries reported that staff complained of draughts from air vents in the air-conditioning system. •
all but two of the libraries had fluorescent lighting
•
82% of libraries had windows which could be opened managers at those libraries where windows could not be opened reported that staffhad significantly more throat problems and general lethargy (sig. at p=0.05) staff could control the lighting in most libraries, however, lethargy and headaches were more frequently experienced by staff working in libraries with fixed lighting levels (sig. at p=0.01) and p=0.05 respectively) 71% of managers reported that their staff did not have any control of the level of air temperature in their libraries. The staff working in these libraries also experienced significantly more headaches, throat problems,
590 lethargy and eye problems (all at p=0.05 or above) than those working in libraries where staff could control the air temperature. 3.4 S t a f f h e a l t h
managers reported a problem with staff experiencing the following: headaches -51%, lethargy- 45%, eye problems - 34%, throat problems 32%, and nose problems - 22% headaches, nose problems, throat problems, eye problems and lethargy were significantly more prevalent in air-conditioned libraries (at p=0.05 or above) 40% of staff in air-conditioned libraries had more than six days absence per year compared with 22% in naturally ventilated libraries
4. C O N C L U S I O N S The results clearly supports previous research that suggests air-conditioned buildings are more likely to suffer from sick building syndrome than those that are naturally ventilated. Staff in air-conditioned libraries experienced more health problems, had more days off sick and rated their environment more stale than staff working in naturally ventilated libraries. The research has also confirmed that psychological factors, such as allowing staff control over environmental levels, may also contribute to the perception of a building being 'sick'. Significantly more h~ealth problems were experienced by staff working in libraries where they did not have control over the openir~g of windows and level of lighting and air temperatu~re. No conclusions can be drawn from this study about the possible effects fluorescent lighting may have on staff because nearly all libraries had this type of lighting. It is clear from the results and comments made on the questionnaire that, like offices, libraries are affected by sick building syndrome. The scale of the problem is hard to estimate, but it would appear that many people are experiencing health problems and working in unsatisfactory environmental conditions in libraries. The authors therefore agree with Finnegan et al who state: ...although the symptoms of the sick building syndrome do not represent a disease but rather a reaction to the working environment, the scale of the problem is probably considerable, and the high degree of dissatisfaction seen...demands attention from architects, engineers, and the medical profession. In particular, more research is needed, preferably of a longitudinal nature, into both air-conditioned and naturally ventilated buildings (3).
591
REFERENCES 1. Wilson, S. and A. Hedge. The office environment survey: a study of building sickness. London: Building Use Studies Ltd, 1987. 2. World Health Organisation Indoor air pollutants: exposure and health effects. World Health Organisation EURO Reports and Studies 78. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation, 1983. 3. Finnegan, M.J. et al. The sick building syndrome: prevalence studies. British Medical Journal, 8 December 1984, 1573-1575. 4. Vince, I. Sick building syndrome. London: IBC Technical Services Ltd, 1987. 5. Hedge, A. et al. Work-related illness in offices: a proposed model of the "sick building syndrome". Environment International, 1989, 15, 143-158. 6. Lundin, L. On building-related causes of the sick building syndrome. Stockholm: Almqvist and Wiksell, 1991.
587
Sick b u i l d i n g syndrome: are UK libraries affected? A. Morris and P. Dennison Department of Information and Library Studies, Loughborough University of Technology Loughborough, Leicestershire L E l l 3TU, United Kingdom
Abstract Sick building syndrome is characterised by occupants of a particular building suffering from a range of symptoms which may include eye, nose and throat irritations, dry skin, headaches, coughs, wheezing, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, hypersensitivity and erythema. This paper discusses the results of a survey which examined the evidence and possible causes of sick building syndrome in libraries. The findings suggests that sick building syndrome exists in libraries and that airconditioned libraries are more likely to be affected than those that are naturally ventilated.
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N Building sickness is "recognised by the World Health Organisation as a syndrome of complaints covering non-specific feelings of malaise, the onset of which is associated with occupancy of certain modern buildings". (1) In 1983 the World Health Organisation listed the symptoms characterising sick building syndrome. They include eye, nose and throat irritations, dry skin, headaches, coughs, wheezing, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, hypersensitivity and erythema.(2) All of these symptoms are commonplace in the general population but it is the pattern of their expression that points to the diagnosis of sick building syndrome. In sick building syndrome symptoms are associated with being in a particular building and are relieved by leaving or staying away from that building. Research investigating sick building syndrome in offices indicates that: air-conditioned buildings are likely to be more affected than naturally ventilated buildings (3) •
women are more prone to the syndrome than men (4) clerical workers are more prone to the syndrome than professional or managerial staff (4) workers who perceive their workplace to be hot and stuffy and the air to be humid and stale report more health problems (5).
588 Pinpointing specific causes of building sickness is difficult because the symptoms reported are often non-specific and diverse, not all employees in a 'sick' building are affected, and causes appear to vary from building to building. Nevertheless, it is generally thought that the main cause of sick building syndrome is physical, and it is probably caused by the presence of air-borne volatile organic compounds plus interactions with other physical factors such as ventilation, humidity and temperature (6). Psychological factors such as stress may also contribute to the perception of a building being 'sick'. Most of the research to-date has been carried out on office buildings and office workers. No research known to the authors has been undertaken to establish whether sick building syndrome also affects libraries. The research summarised here aims to address this issue.
2. M E T H O D O L O G Y A questionnaire was distributed to the managers of all 147 academic libraries in the United Kingdom. In addition, the questionnaire was sent to the manager in a sample of 79 public libraries. The questionnaire was divided into four main sections: general information; library building; library environment, and staff health. Space for other comments was also available. The general information section asked basic questions about the type of library and the number of full-time and part-time female and male staff. The library building section contained questions about the age of the building, whether it was air-conditioned and, if so, if the system was maintained, whether windows could be opened, the type of lighting and if staff had control of the lighting levels. Questions in the library environment section asked the librarians to rate air temperature, freshness and humidity and also environmental comfort. In addition they were asked if their staff experienced draughts and if they had control over the air temperature and air-conditioning levels in the library. The remaining questions, in the section on staff health, asked for information about absenteeism rates, if staff lei~ work early because of illness and if staff complained about a number of symptoms including eye, nose, skin and throat problems, lethargy, headaches, flu-like symptoms, breathing problems, nausea or reduced memory. The general area being examined was referred to both on the questionnaire and in the accompanying covering letter as 'environmental conditions in libraries' rather than 'sick building syndrome'. It was felt that the latter term might possibly alarm library managers and compromise the number of respondents due to the fear of their library building being labelled as 'sick'.
589
3. R E S U L T S The most important results are briefly summarised below:
3.1 General information the overall response rate was 69%; 114 from academic libraries and 43 from public libraries no significant differences were found between the responses of managers of public and academic libraries 3.2 T y p e of l i b r a r y building •
24% of all the libraries were air-conditioned
•
68% were built between the late '60s and early '80s.
3.3 Library environment there was no difference in the perception of air temperature and air humidity between managers in air-conditioned and naturally ventilated libraries managers in naturally ventilated libraries rated their environment higher (more comfortable) and their air to be fresher than those working in airconditioned libraries 58% of managers thought their library was draughty. Surprisingly, managers of nine libraries reported that staff complained of draughts from air vents in the air-conditioning system. •
all but two of the libraries had fluorescent lighting
•
82% of libraries had windows which could be opened managers at those libraries where windows could not be opened reported that staffhad significantly more throat problems and general lethargy (sig. at p=0.05) staff could control the lighting in most libraries, however, lethargy and headaches were more frequently experienced by staff working in libraries with fixed lighting levels (sig. at p=0.01) and p=0.05 respectively) 71% of managers reported that their staff did not have any control of the level of air temperature in their libraries. The staff working in these libraries also experienced significantly more headaches, throat problems,
590 lethargy and eye problems (all at p=0.05 or above) than those working in libraries where staff could control the air temperature. 3.4 S t a f f h e a l t h
managers reported a problem with staff experiencing the following: headaches -51%, lethargy- 45%, eye problems - 34%, throat problems 32%, and nose problems - 22% headaches, nose problems, throat problems, eye problems and lethargy were significantly more prevalent in air-conditioned libraries (at p=0.05 or above) 40% of staff in air-conditioned libraries had more than six days absence per year compared with 22% in naturally ventilated libraries
4. C O N C L U S I O N S The results clearly supports previous research that suggests air-conditioned buildings are more likely to suffer from sick building syndrome than those that are naturally ventilated. Staff in air-conditioned libraries experienced more health problems, had more days off sick and rated their environment more stale than staff working in naturally ventilated libraries. The research has also confirmed that psychological factors, such as allowing staff control over environmental levels, may also contribute to the perception of a building being 'sick'. Significantly more h~ealth problems were experienced by staff working in libraries where they did not have control over the openir~g of windows and level of lighting and air temperatu~re. No conclusions can be drawn from this study about the possible effects fluorescent lighting may have on staff because nearly all libraries had this type of lighting. It is clear from the results and comments made on the questionnaire that, like offices, libraries are affected by sick building syndrome. The scale of the problem is hard to estimate, but it would appear that many people are experiencing health problems and working in unsatisfactory environmental conditions in libraries. The authors therefore agree with Finnegan et al who state: ...although the symptoms of the sick building syndrome do not represent a disease but rather a reaction to the working environment, the scale of the problem is probably considerable, and the high degree of dissatisfaction seen...demands attention from architects, engineers, and the medical profession. In particular, more research is needed, preferably of a longitudinal nature, into both air-conditioned and naturally ventilated buildings (3).
591
REFERENCES 1. Wilson, S. and A. Hedge. The office environment survey: a study of building sickness. London: Building Use Studies Ltd, 1987. 2. World Health Organisation Indoor air pollutants: exposure and health effects. World Health Organisation EURO Reports and Studies 78. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation, 1983. 3. Finnegan, M.J. et al. The sick building syndrome: prevalence studies. British Medical Journal, 8 December 1984, 1573-1575. 4. Vince, I. Sick building syndrome. London: IBC Technical Services Ltd, 1987. 5. Hedge, A. et al. Work-related illness in offices: a proposed model of the "sick building syndrome". Environment International, 1989, 15, 143-158. 6. Lundin, L. On building-related causes of the sick building syndrome. Stockholm: Almqvist and Wiksell, 1991.