Occupational asthma from inadequate air conditioning

I work in a sealed unit, open plan building that was originally built as a catalogue warehouse but now houses about 400 people. The air coditioning system is totally inadequate for this amount of people and the associated printing and computer equipment. Myself, and many of my colleagues are suffering from headaches, sore throats,itchy eyes and noses but above all shortness of breath. All these symptoms recede when time is spent away from the building. Could this be occupational asthma caused by workplace conditions? Thank you

Occupational Asthma, Specialist, 2/20/2006, 2/20/2006,

Headache, feeling tired,dry eyes, blocked nose and dry throat are the usual symptoms of the sick building syndrome, and are the most likely cause of your complaints. Breathlessness is not a common symptom of sick building syndrome however. Sick building syndrome is common in sealed buildings which are overcrowded,have smoking allowed, are too hot, poorly cleaned and lack personal control of the environment. It occurs when the standard criteria for temperature and humidity are normal. The adequacy of the ventilation system can be checked crudely my measuring the levels of carbon dioxide in the air when you are all in the building. Anything over 800 suggests that the ventilation is inadequate. Occupational asthma is rare in office buildings, but can occur. I have never seen a lot of people affected from a single large office.

2/20/2006