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Sick building syndrome in relation to air exchange rate, CO2, room temperature and relative air humidity in university computer classrooms: an experimental study

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health volume 82, pages 21–30 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To study the effects of ventilation and temperature changes in computer classrooms on symptoms in students.

Methods

Technical university students participated in a blinded study. Two classrooms had higher air exchange (4.1–5.2 ac/h); two others had lower (2.3–2.6 ac/h) air exchange. After 1 week, ventilation conditions were interchanged between the rooms. The students reported symptoms during the last hour, on a seven-step rating scale. Room temperature, relative air humidity (RH) carbon dioxide (CO2), PM10 and ultra-fine particles (UFP) were measured simultaneously (1 h). Illumination, air velocity, operative temperature, supply air temperature, formaldehyde, NO2 and O3 were measured. Multiple logistic regression was applied in cross-sectional analysis of the first answer (N = 355). Those participating twice (N = 121) were analysed longitudinally.

Results

Totally 31% were females, 2.9% smokers and 3.8% had asthma. Mean CO2 was 993 ppm (674–1,450 ppm), temperature 22.7°C (20–25°C) and RH 24% (19–35%). Lower and higher air exchange rates corresponded to a personal outdoor airflow of 7 l/s*p and 10–13 L/s*P, respectively. Mean PM10 was 20 μg/m3 at lower and 15 μg/m3 at higher ventilation flow. Ocular, nasal and throat symptoms, breathlessness, headache and tiredness were significantly more common at higher CO2 and temperature. After mutual adjustment, ocular (OR = 1.52 per 1°C), nasal (OR = 1.62 per 1°C) and throat symptoms (OR = 1.53 per 1°C), headache (OR = 1.51 per 1°C) and tiredness (OR = 1.54 per 1°C) were significantly associated with temperature; headache was associated only with CO2 (OR = 1.19 per 100 ppm CO2). Longitudinal analysis demonstrated that increased room temperature was related to tiredness (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Computer classrooms may have CO2 above 1,000 ppm and temperatures above 22°C. Increased temperature and CO2 may affect mucosal membrane symptoms, headaches and tiredness. Room temperature was most important. CO2 associations may partly be temperature effects.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Worklife Research and the Swedish Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, University Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Dan Norbäck & Klas Nordström

Authors
  1. Dan Norbäck
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  2. Klas Nordström
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Correspondence to Dan Norbäck.

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Norbäck, D., Nordström, K. Sick building syndrome in relation to air exchange rate, CO2, room temperature and relative air humidity in university computer classrooms: an experimental study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82, 21–30 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0301-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0301-9

Keywords

  • Indoor air quality
  • Ventilation
  • Room temperature
  • Sick building syndrome (SBS)
  • University students