Sick Building Syndrome Lawyers

Sick Building Syndrome

We think of the places we live and work as safe, free from dangers of any kind. However, our homes are only as safe as the materials used to build them, and only constructed as well as the people who build them are willing to do so. Sick building syndrome, or SBS, occurs for a variety of reasons, but ultimately has the same crippling effect on those exposed to it.

The causes of sick building syndrome can be related to the building materials used to construct the dwelling or work place that has been afflicted. According to a 1984 World Health Organization report, SBS is believed to be associated with 30% of new building or remodeled building illnesses. The most common areas associated with SBS are those that deal with air quality and air circulation in a building. If toxic substances are present in air conditioning ducts or near ventilation grating, then the air that passes through those areas becomes laced with toxic substances, such as mold, that can afflict a person with a variety of ailments.

Ailments associated with sick building syndrome can range from simple fatigue to cancer. Ailments are dependant on the type of toxic substance present, the level of exposure that currently afflicts residents or patrons, and the length of time residents or patrons of the building have been exposed to the problem. Ailments may result from outside toxins that make their way into the building, such as vehicle exhaust, or inside toxins that are introduced into the building, such as fumes coming from cleaning supply liquids. Toxins may grow within the structure as the result of poor building planning and/or upkeep, and can include toxic mold spores or viruses that sustain due to ideal living conditions, and are ultimately spread via building air.

Building owners have an obligation to maintain buildings so as to prevent sick building syndrome from occurring. In the event of employees or residents suddenly feeling the onset of symptoms, symptoms that grow worse as exposure to affected areas persists (yet alleviate when employees or residents vacate the area), building owners must locate the source of the problem and eliminate it. Similarly, building contractors have an obligation to ensure that ventilation systems work properly from the moment they are installed, that every room in a building has proper ventilation, and that building materials used during the construction or remodel process are in fact brand new and clean, and free from defects, such as mold infestation.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been the victim of sick building syndrome, please don't hesitate to contact a Pennsylvania environmental attorney at Anapol Schwartz. Our skilled environmental litigation attorneys will examine every aspect of your claim and determine who is responsible for your misfortune. We will hold liable parties accountable for their actions, and will seek monetary compensation on your behalf that will help cover the costs of medical bills and other fees associated with your illness. Please call us today for a free consultation, and we will ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law.

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