Title: Non-Specific Symptoms In Office Workers: A Review And Summary Of The Epidemiologic Literature
Abstract: Indoor AirVolume 3, Issue 4 p. 227-236 Non-Specific Symptoms In Office Workers: A Review And Summary Of The Epidemiologic Literature Mark J. Mendell, Mark J. Mendell National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Industrywide Studies Branch, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-16, Cincinnati, OH 45266, USA.Search for more papers by this author Mark J. Mendell, Mark J. Mendell National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Industrywide Studies Branch, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-16, Cincinnati, OH 45266, USA.Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1993 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.00003.xCitations: 169AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract Epidemiologic research into the causes of non-specific symptoms among office workers has produced a variety of conflicting findings which are difficult to synthesize. This paper first discusses methodologic issues important in the interpretation of epidemiologic studies, and then reviews the findings of 32 studies of 37 factors potentially related to office worker symptoms. Among environmental factors assessed, there were generally consistent findings associating increased symptoms with air-conditioning, carpets, more workers in a space, VDT use, and ventilation rates at or below 10 liters/second/person. Studies with particularly strong designs found decreased symptoms associated with low ventilation rate, short-term humidification, negative ionization, and improved office cleaning, although studies reviewed showed little consistency of findings for humidification and ionization. Relatively strong studies associated high temperature and low relative humidity with increased symptoms, whereas less strong studies were not consistent. Among personal factors assessed, there were generally consistent findings associating increased symptoms with female gender, job stress/dissatisfaction, and allergies/asthma. For other environmental or personal factors assessed, findings were too inconsistent or sparse for current interpretation, and there were no findings from strong studies. Overall evidence suggested that work related symptoms among office workers were relatively common, and that some of these symptoms represented preventable physiologic effects of environmental exposures or conditions. Future research on this problem should include blind experimental and case-control studies, using improved measurements of both environmental exposures and health outcomes References Berglund, L.G. and Cain, W.S. (1989) Perceived air quality and the thermal environment. 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