Indoor air quality and psychosocial factors related to sick building syndrome among office workers in new and old buildings in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang

ZUBIR, NURFARINA (2020) Indoor air quality and psychosocial factors related to sick building syndrome among office workers in new and old buildings in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text FPSK4 2020 18.pdf Download (2MB)

Abstract

A healthy working environment is important as it could affect workers’ psychology in completing their task in office. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and work-related stress have been linked to the risk of building-related problems which collectively known as sick building syndrome (SBS) A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 120 office workers in new and old buildings in UPM. SBS symptoms and psychosocial factors were identified using validated questionnaires modified from IAQ and work symptoms survey, DOSH, 2010 and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Meanwhile IAQ parameters measured using IAQ devices. This study found that the levels of physical parameters in new building were significantly higher compared to old building for air velocity (z = -2.867, p<0.05) and air humidity (z = -11.983, p<0.001), meanwhile for temperature (z = -12.072, p<0.001), old building was significantly higher compared to new building. The levels of indoor air pollutants (IAP) were significantly higher in old building compared to new building for TVOC (z = -11.969, p<0.001); UFP (z = -11.970, p<0.001); PM2.5 (z = -9.579, p<0.001) and PM10 (z = -9.498, p<0.001). The prevalence of SBS was significantly higher in old building compared to new building ( 2=31.44, p<0.001). There were significant associations between SBS prevalence with temperature (OR=4.02, 95% CI=1.02-15.85), CO2 (OR=4.34, 95% CI=1.21-15.53); TVOC (OR=4.55, 95% CI=1.12-18.48); UFP (OR=4.63, 95% CI=1.25-17.21); PM2.5 (OR=5.06, 95% CI=1.36-18.89); PM10 (OR=4.80, 95% CI=1.33-17.29) in old building and job insecurity (OR=4.08, 95% CI=1.03-16.23) in new building. After controlling the confounders; age, health status and smoking status, the results showed that TVOC, UFP PM2.5 and PM10 influenced the SBS symptoms in old building while job insecurity influenced SBS in new building. Result visibly showed that indoor air pollutants and psychosocial factors influence the prevalence of sick building syndrome among office staffs. This study suggested that, further assessment and preventive measures should be carried out to reduce the risk factors of SBS and work stressors in working environment. Keywords: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Indoor Air Pollutants (IAP), Psychosocial Stress, New and Old Buildings. Research area: Occupational Health

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Hafizzuddin Hamidon
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2023 00:28
Last Modified:	21 Feb 2023 00:28
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/807

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