Sick Building Syndrome!

Introduction:

Housing is one of the five essential human needs as classified by Islam. Polluting elements of the environment such as air can lead to many health problems. For example, pollutants in the indoor air at home can cause various pathologies, including "sick building syndrome". Drills that 30% of buildings in the world are sick buildings,

What is the syndrome of sick buildings?

Sick Building Syndrome was identified in the 1970s as the use of electrical equipment began to spread. The term "sick building syndrome" is used when a group of common symptoms appear on a number of people in a particular building or in a part of the building and disappear if they leave. It has been found that women suffer more than men, and that they are also very much found in office and indoor workers such as schools, libraries or museums. Despite scientific advances in environmental health, this phenomenon is still not understood. Disorder is a combination of diseases that are related to the place of work or residence. The causes of this disorder are centered around the faults of technological devices responsible for ventilation, cooling or heating. The building is ill and causes the disease to its users if: Temporary symptoms related to the length of time spent by the patient in a particular building or in part. Disappearance of symptoms if the patient leaves the building. Seasonal symptoms are related to either heat or cold. Symptoms appear on more than one co-worker or home population.

Symptoms:

It is important to note that patients with Sick Building Syndrome may have some or all of the following symptoms:

Headaches.
Dizziness.
Difficulty concentrating.
Irritation of the nose and throat and eyes.
Nausea.
Fatigue and exhaustion.
Cough.
rash .
Allergy to odors.

Reasons / Causes:

There is no single reason but this disease phenomenon results from a number of factors associated with the toxic effects of pollutants in the building and high concentrations. The closure of windows and the use of air conditioners in summer or the use of central heating or gas heaters in winter lead to poor ventilation, The presence of smokers at home.
In addition, many buildings suffer from poor design or maintenance or poor ventilation system and the main cause of the problem, as the weakness of the ventilation system leads to the accumulation of different pollutants, which in turn leads to poor indoor air quality in the building compared with air quality in the outside even if the building is in a place with severe external air pollution, and poor ventilation leads to inhalation of these toxins throughout the period they spend inside the building.It is worth noting that exposure to very low concentrations of specific types of indoor pollutants such as volatile organic compounds act in causing symptoms of the disease. The studies found that the causes of the syndrome of sick buildings syndrome can be summarized as follows:

Chemical pollutants:
1.1. Internal chemical pollutants such as ozone caused by printer and imaging machinery, cigarette smoke, industrial gases from carpets and clothing, repaint the house with lead paint, and repeated use of chemical detergents or industrial disinfectants contributes to the pollution of the internal environment of the home.
1.2 External chemical contaminants: Carbouble.
Physical factors: poor ventilation, high temperature, change of temperature during the day, low humidity, vibrations, poor lighting, dust, use screens for long hours.
Biological factors: Low hygiene standards lead to the accumulation of biological pollutants such as pollen, fungus, dust and mold mites, bacteria coming from the toilet, and insects.
Psychological factors: pressure, tension and poor ethics of the working group.

Ways to minimize this problem:

If you think your home is sick, you need to improve indoor air quality. Once your home stops releasing toxins, the symptoms will stop automatically. On the working side, the diseased building syndrome The absence of the employee and the decrease in the efficiency of work, so you should consult with colleagues to see if they suffer from the same symptoms, and in the case of symptoms, the building must be examined by a qualified expert, as weak design of offices and poor maintenance of ventilation systems have doubled effects Negative health factors Grit.
Nature has very effective tools for cleaning the air, as sunlight has the wonderful effect of cleaning the air. There must be enough outlets to enter the sun and air, it is very important to focus on good natural ventilation and periodically during the day even in the cold winter days, and should pay attention to the cleanliness of the building and this does not mean the excessive use of detergents but use moderately, The use and storage of detergents should be made safe from any other material. Heating, air-conditioning, cooling and ventilation systems should be inspected periodically.
Fortunately, there are natural alternatives to indoor air purification, such as home, as there are types of plants acting as a purifier for indoor air as it absorbs toxic substances from the atmosphere. Plants also have a positive effect on mental health and have proved effective in increasing concentration and activity and in reducing fatigue and stress. Not only that, but green plants out the screens of protection is important in mitigating the impact of electromagnetic waves harmful to electronics. Here is a list of these plants to choose the appropriate ones: