2954 -- Indoor Air Quality in Relation to Sensory Irritation Due to Volatile Organic Compounds PDF

The Sick Building Syndrome (SBS-syndrome) as defined by a WHO working group is discussed, and the existence of a sub syndrome is postulated, based on observations reported in the literature. This sub syndrome relates mucous membrane irritation - sensory irritation, dryness in nose and eye, which are very frequent symptoms within the Sick Building Syndrome - to the total concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) of the solvent type. This VOC syndrome may include other until now unidentified symptoms.

The postulated dose-response relation is supposed to be multifactoral and two thresholds are therefore of interest . Below a lower threshold, no irritation is expected due to VOC. Total concentrations above the higher limit are expected to cause irritation irrespective of any other exposure. Other exposures may, of cause, modify the intensity of the irritation. Concentrations in between the two limits may, depending on the effect of other exposures, promote irritation due to these other exposures.

A survey of the few observations reported in the literature indicates these two limits to be about 0.16 mg/m³ and 2 mg/m³ respectively . Most of the known total concentrations in the non industrial environment are above 0.16. Complaints were reported in all cases where concentrations were above 2 mg/m³.

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