Sick building syndrome, or SBS, is a term used to characterize a
collective grouping of severe health and comfort symptoms that
result from poor indoor air quality. More accurately, the
syndrome is hypothesized to stem from time spent in a specific
building, but the exact cause or illness cannot be pinpointed.
In cases where a more focused illness can be diagnosed and the
cause is directly linked to a specific airborne building
contaminant, the disorder is called “building-related illness,”
or BRI. Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome If numerous occupants
in a building share symptoms such as headaches, itchy eyes, nose
or throat, excessive dry cough, nausea, fatigue or trouble
concentrating, then the cause may be sick building syndrome. If
these symptoms subside once the individual leaves the building,
then it is a strong indicator that he or she is suffering from
SBS. However, if a specific chemical or biological contaminant
is found to be the cause of discomfort, then the diagnosis may
be augmented to buildi