MUCOSAL IRRITATION AND THERMAL COMFORT AMONG OCCUPANTS OF AN OFFICE BUILDING

The Madison Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., was investigated in 1989 to determine whether occupant-reported symptoms were related to environmental conditions. Questionnaires were distributed to 3176 employees. Respondents reported on mucosal symptoms, thermal comfort, and demographic and health characteristics. In a follow-up survey, temperature and relative humidity were measured in selected locations and shorter questionnaires were administered. Symptoms were grouped into eye, nose, throat, respiratory, and a combined symptom cluster. Indicator variables were created for thermal comfort conditions perceived as cold and hot/stuffy. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test associations between mucosal symptoms and thermal comfort, adjusting for demographic and health characteristics. No associations between symptoms and measured temperature or relative humidity were found. Perceived stuffiness was significantly associated with eye symptoms (odds ratio, OR, = 2.6; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.6-4.0), nose symptoms (OR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.5-3.4), and throat symptoms (OR = 2.95; 95% CI 1.5-5.9). The results suggest that improving occupant comfort may alleviate symptom reporting.