The prevalence of symptoms of the sick building syndrome
in buildings without a known problem has not previously been
systematically determined. This is because research into this
subject has to date usually been by means of a circulated
questionnaire, generally with a low response rate. Typically,
less than half return the questionnaire.4 Consequently, conclusions
on the prevalence of symptoms in these buildings
cannot be drawn. For this reason the high prevalences of symptoms
in buildings 1, 3, 6, and 7 were unexpected findings. In
each case the office had been open for at least five years, so that
dissatisfaction with a "new" environment couild not be blamed
as the cause of the symptoms. As the symptoms affect a large
proportion of the workforce and do not cause serious illness
they often come to be accepted by the workers as a nuisance
and as part of coming to work. Furthermore, as they rarely lead
to absenteeism these symptoms may easily be overlooked by
the medical officer looking after the building.