Correlation between the Prevalence of Sick-Building Syndrome and Safe Indoor Air Quality Concept in Private Residential Housing in Jordan

04.Nov.2023

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Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) and related health problems have witnessed remarkable attention recently. The prevalence of sick-building syndrome (SBS) is considered the most common health issue. This study conducted in the Al-Dahrieh neighborhood in Jordan showed for the first time how indoor air quality (IAQ) factors affect the prevalence of sick-building syndrome among occupants in residential buildings. The study investigated the concentration levels of air pollutants and comfort parameters. Architectural and urban design configurations were collected through site observation. In addition, daily activities for occupants were gathered through an online questionnaire. All statistical and descriptive analyses of the data collected for this study were carried out by Spearman’s rho correlation test (SPSS) and Excel 2016. It was done using two-tailed (2-tailed) tests and a 1% statistical significance level ( < 0.01); interestingly, all expected parameters checked using SPSS are acceptable according to the significant factor of  < 0.05. The research explored low air quality in the selected case studies and suggested simple mitigation strategies to reduce pollutants concentration in the buildings, such as natural ventilation and control of pollution from internal sources. Moreover, architects may take these findings to enhance neighborhood and building design to achieve the goal of constructing healthier buildings.​