Publication: Health Risks from Indoor PM10 and Effects of Sick Building Syndrome in Office Workers
Issued Date
2021
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
2697-584X (Print)
2697-5866 (Online)
2697-5866 (Online)
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Department of Environmental Health Sciences Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 51, No. 2 (May-August 2021), 170-180
Suggested Citation
Thanawat Thongchom, Navee On-si, Chinnasak Puongphan, Thanathorn Chumprasittichok, Thanakrit Neamhom Health Risks from Indoor PM10 and Effects of Sick Building Syndrome in Office Workers. Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 51, No. 2 (May-August 2021), 170-180. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/63649
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
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Thesis
Title
Health Risks from Indoor PM10 and Effects of Sick Building Syndrome in Office Workers
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the index of health risk from indoor PM10
exposure so as to characterize the association between indoor PM10 and
the prevalence effects of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and significant
confounding factors among office workers in an academic institute in Thailand.
This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 and
involved 96 workers in 33 offices. Particle air sampling equipment, and a
self-administered questionnaire which was developed by the researchers, were
used as the tools to acquire the concentration level of building PM10 and assess
SBS symptoms, respectively. Results showed that 12 rooms in total had
concentrations of PM10 that exceeded the average analysis value of 38.1±14.0
μg/m3. The prevalence of SBS effects with regards to general symptoms, mucosal
symptoms, skin symptoms, and eye-related symptoms were 75.0%, 57.4%,
45.5%, and 54.9%, respectively. For health risk assessments, the Hazard
Quotient (HQ) regarding exposure to PM10 was found to be at moderate health
hazard levels. Chi-square test results of two case studies, under and over
average analysis value, examined for dry eye symptoms (DES) revealed
significant associations with PM10 concentration (p<0.05). Moreover, using
binary logistic regression analysis, a working period (more than 8 hours daily)
significantly increased the risk (adjusted odds ratio, AOR) of DES to 3.86 (95%
CI: 1.01-14.72). These findings could assist administrators in controlling work
duration (limit to fewer than 8 hours daily) to decrease the occurrence of DES
symptoms in officers and to reinforce the occupational health and safety
regulations.