What Is Sick Building Syndrome?
The EPA says the term describes situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified, and that complaints may be localized in one room or zone or widespread. It contrasts this with building related illness, the term used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
The EPA lists indicators including complaints of headache, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itchy skin, dizziness and nausea, difficulty concentrating, fatigue and sensitivity to odors, with no known cause and relief for most people soon after leaving the building.
The EPA says inadequate ventilation, including heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems that do not distribute air effectively, is thought to be an important factor, and that most indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building, such as adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, copy machines, pesticides and cleaning agents that may emit VOCs including formaldehyde. It notes that radon and asbestos cause long-term diseases years after exposure and so are not considered causes of sick buildings.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe EPA says sick building syndrome describes situations where occupants have acute health and comfort effects that appear linked to time in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says building related illness is the term used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA lists sick building syndrome complaints including headache, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dizziness, fatigue and sensitivity to odors, with most people reporting relief soon after leaving the building. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says inadequate ventilation, including HVAC systems that do not effectively distribute air, is thought to be an important factor in sick building syndrome. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says most indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building, such as adhesives, carpeting, manufactured wood products, copy machines, pesticides and cleaning agents that may emit VOCs. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA says radon and asbestos cause long-term diseases years after exposure and are therefore not considered among the causes of sick buildings. US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.