Some people believe that the air within their workplace makes them ill

Some people believe that the air within their workplace makes them ill. Which of the following premises support this belief?

a. They consistently feel worse on workdays and weeks without holidays.
b. There has been media coverage of “sick buildings” where there is very little air exchange with fresh air outside.
c. Research has demonstrated that some buildings emit poisonous vapors that make anyone who works there ill.
d. When a small group of persons begins to believe something, the others in the larger group begin to believe it as well.

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: A
As the question discusses risk, the textbook states that the risk factor must precede the problem and that the problem would increase with exposure. Feeling ill only on workdays would imply that some factor in the workplace is responsible. The media coverage, research related to poisonous vapors, and “group think” responses do not address the fact that the repeated exposure to the risk factor may be what is making them ill.