Is Your Building Making You Sick? Understanding Sick Building Syndrome
Do you develop headaches, fatigue, congestion, or difficulty concentrating at work, school, or in your apartment—but start feeling better soon after you leave?
If your symptoms consistently occur in one building and improve elsewhere, poor indoor environmental conditions may be contributing to the problem. This pattern is commonly referred to as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
RTK Environmental Group provides independent indoor air quality testing to help identify environmental conditions that may be affecting occupant health and comfort.
What Is Sick Building Syndrome?
Sick Building Syndrome describes situations where building occupants experience health or comfort symptoms that appear to be related to spending time inside a particular building, but no single illness or specific cause can be identified.
A hallmark of Sick Building Syndrome is that symptoms often improve after leaving the building and return when occupants re-enter it.
What Are the Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome?
People affected by poor indoor environmental quality may experience:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Eye, nose, or throat irritation
- Sneezing or congestion
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Dizziness
- Skin irritation
- Nausea
Because these symptoms can have many causes, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider while also considering whether your indoor environment may be contributing to the problem.
What Causes Sick Building Syndrome?
Many environmental factors can contribute to Sick Building Syndrome. Professional indoor air quality testing helps determine which may be affecting a particular building.
Mold Growth
Mold is one of the most common contributors to poor indoor air quality. It often develops after:
- Roof leaks
- Plumbing leaks
- Flooding
- High humidity
- Condensation
- HVAC moisture
Once mold begins growing, spores can spread throughout a building via normal air circulation and HVAC systems.
Poor Ventilation and HVAC Problems
Inadequate ventilation allows indoor contaminants to accumulate.
Common indoor air pollutants include:
- Mold spores
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Dust
- Radon
- Cleaning chemicals
- Building material emissions
- Allergens
Routine HVAC maintenance and filter replacement are important parts of maintaining healthy indoor air.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are chemicals released by many common products, including:
- Paints
- Adhesives
- Carpeting
- Furniture
- Cleaning products
- Manufactured wood products
- Air fresheners
Elevated VOC levels may contribute to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and other indoor air quality complaints.
Dust and Allergens
Indoor dust can contain:
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Fiberglass
- Building material particles
Over time, these allergens can circulate through occupied spaces and contribute to respiratory irritation.
Biological Contaminants
Food waste, moisture, pest activity, and poor housekeeping can encourage biological contamination from mold, bacteria, and pests, further affecting indoor environmental quality.
How Can You Tell if Your Building Is Making You Sick?
Your building may warrant an environmental investigation if:
- Symptoms occur primarily in one building
- Symptoms improve after leaving
- Multiple occupants report similar problems
- The building has experienced water damage or moisture issues
- There are persistent odors or visible mold
- Indoor air feels stale or poorly ventilated
These signs don’t necessarily confirm Sick Building Syndrome, but they can indicate that indoor environmental testing is appropriate.
How Does RTK Test for Sick Building Syndrome?
Because there is no single laboratory test for Sick Building Syndrome itself, RTK investigates the environmental conditions that commonly contribute to occupant complaints.
Our indoor environmental investigations may include:
- Indoor air quality (IAQ) testing
- Mold testing
- VOC testing
- Moisture investigations
- Dust characterization
- Radon testing
- HVAC-related evaluations
- Surface sampling when appropriate
The goal is to identify—or rule out—environmental factors that may be affecting the building.
Why Choose Independent Indoor Air Quality Testing?
RTK Environmental Group performs testing and consulting only. We do not perform remediation or sell air purification systems.
This independence ensures that our findings remain objective and that recommendations are based solely on the environmental data collected—not on selling additional services.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Sick Building Syndrome?
If you believe your office, school, apartment building, or commercial property may be affecting occupant health:
- Document when and where symptoms occur.
- Ask whether other occupants are experiencing similar issues.
- Report concerns to your employer, property manager, landlord, or facilities department.
- Speak with your healthcare provider to rule out other medical conditions.
- Schedule professional indoor air quality testing if environmental conditions are suspected.
Early testing can help identify mold, moisture problems, VOCs, or other indoor air quality issues before they become more serious.
Schedule Indoor Air Quality Testing
If you suspect your building’s indoor environment may be contributing to health symptoms, RTK Environmental can help identify potential environmental causes through independent testing and inspection.
Call 800.392.6468 to schedule an indoor air quality inspection or speak with one of our environmental specialists.
