Carlos has noted increased complaints by employees of headaches and fatigue. Which of the following factors should he consider?

The combination of headaches and fatigue among multiple employees is a classic indicator of poor indoor air quality (IAQ). This phenomenon is often associated with "Sick Building Syndrome," where contaminants (e.g., carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds) or inadequate ventilation lead to a range of non-specific health complaints. Poor IAQ has a direct physiological impact that can cause both headaches and systemic fatigue. While other environmental factors can contribute to discomfort, IAQ is a primary suspect when these specific symptoms are widespread in an office setting.

A. room temperature: While extreme temperatures can cause discomfort and fatigue, they are not a common primary cause of widespread employee headaches.

B. humidity: Improper humidity levels are more likely to cause skin or respiratory irritation rather than headaches and fatigue as the main symptoms.

C. lighting: Poor lighting is a significant cause of eye strain and related headaches, but it is a less direct cause of systemic fatigue compared to air quality.

1. U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2011). Indoor Air Quality (OSHA Publication 3430-04). Page 3

"What are the symptoms of poor IAQ?". This official document lists "Headaches

fatigue

shortness of breath

sinus congestion

coughing

sneezing

dizziness

and nausea" as common symptoms of poor indoor air quality.

2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (n.d.). Indoor Environmental Quality. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/. NIOSH identifies symptoms of building-related health problems

including "headache; fatigue; eye

nose

or throat irritation

" directly linking these complaints to the indoor environment

with air quality being a major component.

3. Redlich

C. A.

Sparer

J.

& Cullen

M. R. (1997). Sick-building syndrome. The Lancet

349(9057)

1013–1016. In the section "Clinical Features

" this peer-reviewed article states

"The most frequent symptoms are headache

lethargy [fatigue]

and mucous membrane irritation." This supports air quality as a primary cause for the combination of symptoms. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(96)07220-007220-0)

4. University of California

Berkeley

School of Public Health. EH&S 260: Introduction to Occupational and Environmental Health. Course materials frequently discuss Sick Building Syndrome

identifying headaches and fatigue as the most commonly reported symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality and ventilation issues in office buildings.