Indoor Environment and the Skin

There is a lack of consensus about the clinical signs and prognosis of the sick building syndrome (SBS). Clinical reports are sparse and the inclusion of skin symptoms in the syndrome is a matter of controversy. Skin symptoms affecting both facial skin, scalp and trunc have been reported from buildings with indoor climate problems. During the last ten years there have been reports of facial skin symptoms associated with VDT work. Results from an interdisciplinary study of offices in northern Sweden are presented. Female gender, asthma/rhinitis, psychosocial factors, VDT and paper work were important non-building related risk factors for SBS-symptoms. VDT work especially raised the risk for self reported facial skin symptoms. Building factors of importance were, among others, outdoor air flow rate and water/mould problems. In VDT workers background electric fields and magnetic fields emitted by the VDT appeared as risk factors for skin symptoms. Skin symptoms in VDT workers preferrably affected facial skin while office workers with general and mucosal symptoms compatible with SBS had skin symptoms affecting larger areas of the body. The presented data support the inclusion of skin symptoms in the sick building syndrome.