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| Sick Days at Work Kathryn S. Brown Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide contain enough pollutants to make workers ill. Asbestos, radon, and environmental tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer or chronic pulmonary disease. And pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and bioaerosols (airborne particles emitted by fungi and bacteria) may be causing equally hazardous, though less well-understood, illnesses. Scientists have identified more than 1,500 indoor air pollutants from sources such as carpets, photocopiers, and ventilation ducts. Researchers suggest that symptoms of the resulting so-called sick building syndrome result from a complex, hard-to-study blend of pollutants that affect individuals differently. In response, scientists are wielding a range of research tools from epidemiology studies to air chamber studies to solve the indoor air pollution problem. Kathryn S. Brown
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