Indoor air quality (temperature and volatile organic compound) and prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms among office workers in new and old building at Taiping District / Nor Atiqah Md Aini

This study aimed to determine the association between indoor air quality and the revalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) among office workers in new and old buildings at Taiping district. In this study, Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) was categorized as Old Building while the additional building Zoo Taiping department was categorized as new building. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 45 office workers from new buildings (additional building of Zoo Taiping) and old building (Taiping Municipal Council). The SBS symptoms were assessed by using the questionnaires of Indoor Air Quality and Work Environment Symptoms Survey, NIOSH Indoor Environment Quality Survey (1991) while for the IAQ and IAP they were monitored by using the instruments. The results showed that the temperature level in the new building was not significantly higher compared to old building with the median 25.4 °C and 27.9 °C, respectively (z=-1.100, p<0.271). Mann Whitney U test, it showed that the difference of indoor air pollutant in new building was not significantly higher compared to old building but the VOC concentration was significantly higher for new building. Besides, the prevalence of sick building syndroms (sbs) symptoms like Dizziness, Headache, Irritated I Stuffy Nose, Dry throat, Drowsiness and Eye Irritation which is significant value recorded highest percentage for new building with 87% for dizziness, 64% for headache, 56% for irritated, 36% for dry throat, 24% for drowsiness and 9% for eye irritation. Results of Mann Whitney U test in showed that the difference of indoor air pollutant in new building was not significantly higher compared to old building but the VOC concentration was significantly higher for new building. Although there was no significant difference for SBS prevalence between new and old buildings,both building scan be concluded as having SBS since more than 20% of building occupants had experienced SBS during this study. Prevalence of SBS in new building was 77.8% while for the old building was 62.2%, indicating that both buildings have high risk on SBS. Thus, regular housekeeping and proper ventilation system maintenance are recommended.