Open AccessThe Analysis of Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms with Environmental Stress Model for New Apartment in Dubai
Author(s) -
Chuloh Jung,
Nahla Al Qassimi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of behavioural sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2710-5865
DOI - 10.55057/ajbs.2021.3.4.5
Subject(s) - sick building syndrome , irritability , apartment , environmental health , coping (psychology) , field survey , annoyance , medicine , life quality , questionnaire , anxiety , indoor air quality , psychiatry , environmental engineering , engineering , physical therapy , civil engineering , social science , sociology , audiology , loudness
Recently many residents in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) have complained of various SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) symptoms. However, regarding SBS research, most of them are about the actual condition of indoor air pollutants and the symptoms and reactions perceived by residents are not addressed. The objective of this paper was to explore the subjective symptoms, environmental characteristics, and health damage awareness and countermeasures were identified according to the environmental stress model, and individual lifestyles and habits were investigated. As a methodology, a web survey for Dubai and a field survey at Business Bay and Dubai Marina were conducted at the same time. The result had shown that SBS symptoms were very diverse even within one household, and the circumstances of the suffering were also varied. The subjective symptoms before and after moving to new apartment, the most common symptom before moving in was ‘dry skin’ and the residents’ biggest complaint was ‘increased irritability in daily life’. To prevent SBS symptoms, the most common residents’ countermeasure was ‘More frequent ventilation’. It was statistically proven that SBS directly affects the quality of life of residents, this effect was found to be very serious. The presence of SBS symptoms despite positive coping behaviors is evidence of how harmful indoor air pollutants from new apartment.