Indoor air quality and sick building syndrome study at two selected libraries in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the association between sick building syndrome (SBS) and indoor air pollutants in two libraries. 101 workers in both libraries responded to the questionnaire, which was based on Malaysian Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 (MCPIAQ) for the measurement of SBS occurrences. Measurements of indoor air quality were also performed according to the MCPIAQ methods. Higher prevalence of SBS recorded in Perpustakaan Sultanah Zanariah (PSZ), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, compared to Perpustakaan Sultan Ismail (PSI) (X 2 = 38.81, p = 0.000), Johor Bahru City. Significantly higher levels of indoor air pollutants were detected in PSZ compare to PSI for CO, CO2 , temperature, bacteria, fungi and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), while PSI indicated higher level of relative humidity (RH). The levels of CO2 , temperature, humidity, TVOC and bacteria counts were the possible major factors contributing to SBS complaints among the workers of both libraries.