Prevalencia del síndrome del edificio enfermo en trabajadores de la industria manufacturera / Prevalence of sick building syndrome in manufacturing industry workers

El síndrome del edificio enfermo, se refiere a un conjunto de síntomas generales en mucosa (ocular y/o respiratoria) y piel que presentan los ocupantes de edificaciones con calidad ambiental deficientes, exponiendo a sus ocupantes a factores de riesgos físicos, mecánicos, químicos, biológicos y psicosociales, que puede afectar negativamente la salud y productividad de las personas. Con el propósito de determinar la frecuencia de los síntomas de los ocupantes de una industria manufacturera del Perú, se realizó estudio transversal aplicándose a 237 trabajadores, estratificados por áreas laborales, el cuestionario sugerido por el Instituto Nacional de Higiene y Seguridad en el Trabajo, además de evaluar la condición ambiental mediante la determinación de bioaerosoles cultivables y contables. Los resultados mostraron prevalencia superior al 20% en síntomas como: sequedad en ojos y garganta, picor en garganta congestión nasal, dolor de cabeza y debilidad general. Se tomaron, cuantificaron y caracterizaron 164 muestras de bioaerosoles, los microrganismos encontrados con mayor porcentaje fueron, Aspergillus sp. 54,68% (68) en el área administrativa, mientras que en las áreas de producción y almacén predomino Penicillium sp. con 87,10% (108) y 62,21% (77) respectivamente. Otros géneros encontrados en mayor porcentajes, en las tres áreas fueron: Trichoderma, Acremonium, Monilia, Cladosporium, entre otros. Los hallazgos se correlacionan con lo reportado en diversas investigaciones, la presencia de mencionados hongos, sugiere que existe una inadecuada calidad ambiental y aunada a la prevalencia obtenida en cuanto a sintomatología, se puede clasificar la edificación objeto de estudio con el Síndrome del edificio enfermo(AU)

Sick building syndrome refers to a set of general mucosal (ocular and/or respiratory) and skin symptoms presented by occupants of buildings with poor environmental quality, exposing their occupants to physical, mechanical, chemical, biological and psychosocial, which can negatively affect the health and productivity of people. In order to determine the frequency of the symptoms of the occupants of a manufacturing industry in Peru, a cross-sectional study was carried out, applying to 237 workers, stratified by work areas, the questionnaire suggested by the National Institute of Hygiene and Safety at Work, in addition to to evaluate the environmental condition by determining cultivable and countable bioaerosols. The results showed a prevalence greater than 20% in symptoms such as: dry eyes and throat, itchy throat, nasal congestion, headache and general weakness. 164 samples of bioaerosols were taken, quantified and characterized, the microorganisms found with the highest percentage were Aspergillus sp. 54.68% (68) in the administrative area, while in the production and storage areas, Penicillium sp. with 87.10% (108) and 62.21% (77) respectively. Other genera found in higher percentages in the three areas were: Trichoderma, Acremonium, Monilia, Cladosporium, among others. The findings correlate with what has been reported in various investigations, the presence of these fungi suggests that there is an inadequate environmental quality and, together with the prevalence obtained in terms of symptoms, the building under study can be classified with the Sick Building Syndrome(AU)

Discusión del síndrome del edificio enfermo en trabajadores de la salud / Discussion about the Sick Building Syndrome in Health Workers

Introducción: La salud ocupacional involucra importantes líneas de debate. La enfermedad ocupacional ve el ejercicio del trabajo y el ambiente de trabajo como causas de la enfermedad de los trabajadores, como es el caso del síndrome del edificio enfermo. Objetivo: Discutir, en base a la literatura científica, el síndrome del edificio enfermo en el contexto de los trabajadores de la salud. Métodos: Revisión integradora realizada en abril de 2019. Se usaron cuatro bases de datos en las cuales se obtuvieron 37 artículos inicialmente. No se aplicaron los criterios de delimitación temporal o idiomática. Después de leer por completo se dejaron 10 estudios primarios que se trataron más adelante. Toda la selección y el análisis siguieron un diagrama de flujo y la estrategia de PRISMA. Conclusión: Se encontró poca producción sobre el síndrome del edificio enfermo enfocado en el contexto de los trabajadores de la salud, lo que dificulta la obtención de estudios actuales que aborden el problema. Sin embargo, según lo que se ha revisado, los factores causales van desde fallas en los sistemas de ventilación y sus cualidades hasta el problema de la sobrecarga de trabajo y los entornos con microorganismos. Los síntomas son diversos y se caracterizan principalmente por problemas relacionados con las vías respiratorias, la piel y el tracto psicológico. Las actividades de intervención involucran el desempeño de profesionales dirigidos a unidades de salud ocupacional, el uso de instrumentos para detectar riesgos de exposición y cambios en los hábitos estructurales(AU)

Introduction: Occupational health involves important lines of debate. Occupational disease sees working and the work environment as causes of workers' disease, as is the case of sick building syndrome. Objective: To discuss, based on the scientific literature, the sick building syndrome in the setting of health workers. Methods: Integrative review carried out in April 2019. Four databases were used, in which 37 articles were initially obtained. The criteria of time or language delimitation were not applied. After reading the whole information, 10 primary studies were chosen, which were discussed later. All the choosing and the analysis followed a flow chart and the strategy of PRISMA. Conclusion: Little production was found about sick building syndrome focused on the setting of health workers, making it difficult to obtain current studies that address the problem. However, based on what has been reviewed, the causal factors range from failure of ventilation systems and their qualities to the problem of work overload and environments with microorganisms. The symptoms are diverse and characterized mainly by problems related to the respiratory tract, the skin, and the psychological aspect. Intervention activities involve professional performance targeted to occupational health units, the use of instruments to detect exposure risks, and changes in structural habits(AU)

A poluição do ar em ambientes internos e a síndrome dos edifícios doentes / Air pollution in internal environments and sick building syndrome

A Qualidade do Ar Interno (QAI) surgiu como ciência a partir da década de 70 com a crise energética e a consequente construção dos edifícios selados (desprovidos de ventilação natural), principalmente nos países desenvolvidos, e se destacou após a descoberta de que a diminuição das taxas de troca de ar nesses ambientes era a grande responsável pelo aumento da concentração de poluentes no ar interno. Admite-se que a ventilação seja um dos principais fatores que interferem na qualidade do ar interno e que os próprios ocupantes dos edifícios contribuem substancialmente com a poluição destes ambientes através de suas atividades. Sabe-se ainda que a má qualidade do ar interno está associada a doenças (como tosse, rinite, alergia, etc.) e à Síndrome dos Edifícios Doentes (SED). Para amostragem de substâncias gasosas no ar de ambientes internos dispõe-se de diversas metodologias, sendo as principais: sistemas passivos de monitoramento, sistemas ativos e automáticos. Para a efetiva promoção de um ambiente saudável, deve-se conciliar a aplicação de legislações específicas com pesquisas e conscientização dos ocupantes dos edifícios. Essa revisão objetiva relacionar os diferentes contaminantes encontrados em ambientes internos, seus efeitos à saúde humana e suas metodologias de amostragem.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) emerged as a science from the 1970s onwards with the energy crisis and the subsequent construction of sealed buildings (without natural ventilation). This mainly occurred in developed countries and it soon came to public attention that lower levels of air exchange in these environments was the main culprit for the increase in concentration of indoor air pollutants. It is common knowledge that ventilation is one of the principal factors that interfere with air quality in indoor environments and that the occupants contribute to the pollution of these environments with their activities. Furthermore, poor indoor air quality is associated with some diseases (cough, rhinitis, allergy, etc.) and with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). For sampling of the indoor contaminants there are several methodologies, available including passive monitoring systems, active and automatic systems. To ensure a healthy indoor environment, the application of specific legislation needs to be reconciled with research and fostering awareness among the occupants of such buildings. This survey seeks to identify the different contaminants found in internal environments, their effects on human health and the methodologies available for sampling them.