Malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC systems) also increase the indoor air pollution. This reduced ventilation rate was found to be inadequate to maintain the health and comfort of building occupants. The ventilation was reduced to 5 cfm/person. In 1970, oil embargo led building designers to make buildings more airtight, with less outdoor air ventilation, in order to improve energy efficiency. It is important to note that complaints may also result from other cause like a preexisting illness or other allergies, job-related stress or dissatisfaction and psychosocial factors. The complainants may require prolonged recovery time after leaving the building. The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes. Humidifier fever is caused by breathing in water droplets from humidifiers heavily contaminated with microorganisms causing respiratory infections, asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Legionnaire's disease occurs predominantly in the middle aged and elderly adults whereas Pontiac fever occurs in young healthy adults, and has a very high secondary attack rate. Legionella is also responsible for Pontiac fever. Legionnaire's disease is due to contamination of cooling towers by legionella organisms. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis, Legionnaire's disease, humidifier fever, pneumonia and occupational asthma are also known to occur. Signs and symptoms of the building-related disease are as followsĬough, chest pain, shortness of breath on mild exertion, edema, palpitations, nosebleeds, cancers, pregnancy problems and miscarriages.
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