Causes and remedies of sick building syndrome: A systematic review

Department of Architecture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria

^* Corresponding author: ajuluchukwu.igwe@unn.edu.ng

Abstract

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), a situation where building occupants of specific buildings feels unwell whenever they are in that building, but gets relieved when they exit the building. The effects of SBS is now of great concern to home owners and stakeholders in the building industry, even though some faction still believes that there is nothing like SBS since there is no clinical proof yet for the phenomenon, but still there is need for efficient means and strategies that can be employed to make our building right “well” and eliminate those factors that makes a building sick. To this effect, this study aims to investigate the phenomenon known as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), identify the causal factors, symptoms and possible ways through which we can eliminate them from our buildings. The study in the quest to achieve the above aim employed the literature review research design (systematic review), with particular reference to works of literature that dwelt majorly on Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), the causes and how it can be curtailed. Evidence in literature revealed that for a fact most building occupants do experience SBS both in the residential and office/commercial buildings, owning to the fact that some of the buildings are exposed to the identified causal effects of SBS such as, poor ventilation, biological contaminants, chemical contaminants (both indoor and outdoor), radiation from electronics, psychological factors etc. this also comes with a lot of symptoms like headache, irritations of nose, eyes, throat, dizziness, dry cough, nausea. Other studies on SBS has dwelt majorly on the symptoms of SBS and definition, but this study tried to identify the causal agents of the phenomenon, which is where this study plays a major role in filling that gap. The research findings from this study ascertained that SBS can be completely avoided when the stakeholders in the construction industry adheres strictly to building guidelines, and in a situation where a building is considered to be sick, there should be proper corrective measures to make the building well and this should be followed with regular building inspection. This study will help inform the government and building stakeholders on ways to tackle SBS, and the things to look out for in building to ensure that the building is fit for people to occupy.