ILO Home
Go to the home page
Site map | Contact us Français | Español

CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)107903
CIS number 08-340
ISSN - Serial title 1351-0711 - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 2007
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Jaakkola M.S., Yang L., Ieromnimon A., Jaakkola J.J.K.
Title Office work, SBS and respiratory sick building syndrome symptoms
Bibliographic information Mar. 2007, Vol.64, No.3, p.178-184. Illus. 27 ref.
Abstract The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between exposure to copy paper, paper dust and fumes from photocopiers and printers (FPP), and the occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, chronic respiratory symptoms and respiratory infections. Subjects consisted of a randomly-selected sample of 342 office workers in a region of Finland. They answered a questionnaire about personal information, health, smoking, occupation, and exposures in the work environment and at home. Data were subjected to logistic regression analyses. Findings are discussed. This study provides new evidence that exposure to paper dust and to FPP is related to the risk of SBS symptoms, breathlessness and upper respiratory infections. It strengthens the evidence that exposure to copy paper increases the risk of eye symptoms, general symptoms, chronic respiratory symptoms and some respiratory infections. Reduction of these exposures could improve the health of office workers.
Descriptors (primary) airborne dust; paper; symptoms; sick building syndrome; work in confined spaces; office work; office equipment; respirable dust
Descriptors (secondary) subjective assessment; eye irritation; Finland; statistical evaluation; fatigue; questionnaire survey; case-control study; respiratory diseases
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFinland; United Kingdom
Subject(s) Commerce, services, offices
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Sick building syndrome
Office work
Confined spaces