sick building syndrome

American  

noun

1. an illness caused by exposure to pollutants or germs inside an airtight building.

---

sick building syndrome British  

noun

1. a group of symptoms, such as headaches, eye irritation, and lethargy, that may be experienced by workers in offices with limited ventilation

---

sick building syndrome Scientific  

/ sĭk /

1. An illness affecting workers in office buildings, characterized by skin irritation, headache, and respiratory problems, and thought to be caused by indoor pollutants, microorganisms, or inadequate ventilation.

---

Etymology

Origin of sick building syndrome

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Dr Primrose Freestone, an associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, says it can lead to symptoms for what is known as sick building syndrome.

From BBC • Aug. 31, 2025

In some cases, this can lead to health issues, which is then referred to as "sick building syndrome."

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2024

There’s even a name for illness caused by poor ventilation: sick building syndrome.

From Seattle Times • May 26, 2022

Like sick building syndrome, we feared this could result in "sick biosphere syndrome."

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2021

Causes of sick building syndrome are believed to include inadequate ventilation, indoor air pollution, and biological contaminants.

From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018