Building-related illness. A review of available scientific data

Abstract

The allergist-immunologist is ideally trained to play a critical role in the recognition and evaluation of patients with building-related illness. The practitioners of this subspecialty should also take an active role in critical studies that will expand the knowledge base in this whole area, and collaborate as well with colleagues in toxicology and industrial hygiene to develop accurate and sensitive measures of implicated pollutants, irritants, and allergens. The role of multiple low level pollutants on healthy workers must be assessed in an objective fashion. Methods to evaluate and enforce regulations on building ventilation should be developed and widely applied. It is only in this fashion that an expanding population of office workers can be assured a suitable work environment as we emerge from the age of the industrial blue collar worker to the technical, office-based white collar worker.