Sick building syndrome (also termed environmental illness, building-related illness [BRI], or multiple chemical sensitivity [MCS]) is considered by some clinicians to be an illness in some people after they are exposed to as yet undefined chemical, biological, or physical agents that are thought to be found in building(s).

The term was first used in 1986 and has been controversial ever since. BRI (building-related illness) is becoming the more accepted term used in the medical literature.

What is sick building syndrome?

• Sick building syndrome is believed by some to be an illness caused by unknown agents in buildings.
• Sick building syndrome is a controversial subject because many experts do not think it is a true syndrome.
• Sick building syndrome has no known cause, however, known causes of illness such as lead poisoning, formaldehyde fumes, and many others have been associated with individual buildings.
• For those who believe the syndrome is real, many risk factors are cited.
• Many nonspecific symptoms cited for the syndrome fit no pattern.
• There are no diagnostic tests for the syndrome.
• There is no specific treatment for the syndrome.
• Complications of the alleged syndrome range from increased symptoms to the inability to tolerate being inside a certain building and the problems, many jobs related, that may occur.
• The prognosis of an alleged syndrome is unclear, but symptomatic treatments may reduce problems and result in a fair to good prognosis — so may treatment of known causes of building-related problems like formaldehyde and paint fumes, and many others.
• Prevention is difficult in a syndrome without a known cause, no diagnostic tests, and no defined treatments, but the Environmental Protection Agency provides prevention methods to address known disease problems that can be diagnosed and are known to be related to air-moving systems and construction materials used in buildings.

Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms & Signs

As stated above, there is controversy about sick building syndrome, and the controversy is demonstrated by the medical literature about its cause(s). Those who believe it is a true disease syndrome have only speculated that the cause(s) are multiple and depend on the patient’s medical condition (for example, asthma, COPD, nosebleeds etc ) and how the compounds in the building (cigarette smoke, chemical outgassing from structural components such as formaldehyde, paint odor, and radon, or biologics such as bacteria and fungi, black mold, or indoor houseplants) interact with the person. Proponents further speculate that patients with the syndrome may be more sensitive to low concentrations of some compounds and may have heightened immune responses to such compounds. Further, proponents suggest depression and anxiety may play a role in this syndrome.

Others who say there is no evidence for this syndrome agree that certain chemicals, biologics, and physical agents found in some buildings, factories, stores etc can cause disease, but once these are identified (for example, lead, Legionnaires’ disease, asbestos), then the disease is identified and is not a new “syndrome” .

In my opinion, said Dr Qaisar Ahmed, it (sick building syndrome) exist, its may be a single disease and/or allergic reaction or could be the combination of few diseases and/or allergies. There are different types of fumes, gases, dusts (especially wollenn dust, nylon and many other non organic fiber dust etc), permanent air-conditioning and/or lake of proper ventilation etc are the cause for the sick building syndrome.