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Environmental risk factors and work‐related lower respiratory symptoms in 80 office buildings: An exploratory analysis of NIOSH data
Author(s) -
Mendell Mark J.,
Naco Gina M.,
Wilcox Thomas G.,
Sieber W. Karl
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.10211
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , odds ratio , confidence interval , logistic regression , risk factor
Background We evaluated relationships between lower respiratory symptoms and risk factors for microbiological contamination in office buildings. Methods The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health collected data from 80 office buildings during standardized indoor environmental health hazard evaluations. Present analyses included lower respiratory symptom‐based outcome definitions and risk factors for potential microbiologic contamination. Multivariate logistic regression models for selected outcomes identified key risk factors. Results Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for “at least three of four work‐related lower respiratory symptoms” were, for debris in ventilation air intake, 2.0 (1.0–3.9), and for poor drainage in air‐conditioning drip pans, 2.6 (1.3–5.2). Adjusted associations with risk factors were consistently stronger for outcomes requiring both multiple symptoms and improvement away from work, and somewhat stronger among diagnosed asthmatics. Conclusions Moisture and debris in ventilation systems, possibly by supporting microbiologic growth, may increase adverse respiratory effects, particularly among asthmatics. Data from more representative buildings are needed to confirm these findings. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:630–641, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.