Modern buildings can cause illnesses — report

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 4

Modern buildings can cause illnesses — report

PA Wellington Working in modern buildings can lead to a wide variety of illnesses, said a national support group, Open Forum for Health. The group released a report on the disorders caused by working in modern buildings. Secretary, Keitha Alcorn, said that the presence of bacteria causing legionnaires disease in ventilation systems was only part of a broad problem. She said the group had received many inquiries

from people forced to take time off work because they were badly affected by their office environment. Reported illnesses include headaches, dizziness, skin irritations, rashes, asthma, sinus congestion, fatigue, nausea, coughs, wheezing, hypersensitivity, sore throats, irritated eyes and shortness of breath. Mrs Alcorn said these were caused by bad ventilation and indoor air pollutants like dust and moulds and the gases off

by organic solvents, glue, paint, vinyls, plastic, synthetic and curtains.

. Sensitive people starting work in a new building could come down with these symptoms very quickly, she said.

Mrs Alcorn said work on Open Forum’s report had gone on for the last three months.

The report included research into overseas studies and would be presented to companies, staff and unions, she said.

The group has also been working with the Department of Health, which has conducted its own survey on ventilation problems.

Tests were conducted on several buildings in Wellington and Mrs Alcorn said that as a result of these, a new standard would be introduced to ensure owners of new and existing buildings have proper control over ventilation and heating systems.

Mrs Alcorn said many people were unaware that their building environment caused sicknesses. “But there is a vast amount of literature and research on the subject,” she said.