Why All The Concern Now?
- Tighter building Construction
- People spending more time indoors
- Greater awareness of IAQ
-Media
-Litigation
-Government activity
- More indoor pollutants with office equipment
During the 1970's, ventilation requirements were changed to conserve fossil fuels, and virtually air-tight buildings emerged. At the same time, a revolution occured in office work throughout the country. Computers and other new work technolgies foreced a a change in office procedures and productivity, and ergonomic and organizational stress problems may have increased. Coupled witht eh conservation meausres and changing technology was a dreamatic increase in the number of workers in white collar jobs. Greater awarenss of the potential for IEQ problems may also be contributing to a rise in reporting of suspected problems. All of these factors may have contributed to the increase.
Source: The National Institute for Occuapational Safety and Health (NIOSH)