Inc. staff

Sick Building Syndrome

 

A Brief Overview

The term "sick building syndrome," or SBS, was coined in the 1970s.

Was Ventilation to Blame?

During the last oil crisis, companies reduced energy costs by sealing buildings tightly, trapping stale, unhealthful air.

The Latest Research

A new study suggests a more prosaic cause for the symptoms commonly associated with SBS: bad bosses.

How Big is the Problem?

In 1984 the World Health Organization fanned fears by estimating that 30 percent of commercial buildings worldwide could make workers sick.

What About Cubicle Culture?

Firms created germ-infested offices by cramming too many people per square foot.