Gerontology

China

Archaeology

Sick child

Sick building syndrome

Environmental health

Pediatrics

Psychology

Geography

Questionnaire

Sociology

Indoor air quality

Medicine

Meteorology

Social science

Building and Environment

SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) has been studied since the 1970s, mostly in workplaces. To comprehensively characterize associations between the home environment and SBS, we performed a study in the Tianjin area, China. Seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-five (7865) families with infants participated in a questionnaire survey. Information on their lifestyles, home environment and health outcomes was obtained. Fourteen percent (14%) of parents reported general symptoms, followed by 11% for mucosal symptoms and 9% for skin symptoms. There was no gender difference in reports of SBS symptoms. People living in apartments, compared to Pingfang, reported more SBS symptoms. Indoor risk factors for SBS symptoms were perceived dry air (AOR:2.71–3.85), condensation on windows (AOR:1.44–2.11), less frequent window opening (AOR:1.71–1.73) and dampness (AOR:1.44–1.93). Our findings suggest that the home environment impacts occupants’ health.

Sick building syndrome symptoms among young parents in Chinese homes