Thermal environmental interference with airborne bacteria and fungi levels in air-conditioned offices

Indoor and Built Environment

Volumn 17, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 122-127

  Wong, L T ^a   Mui, K W ^a   Hui, P S ^a   Chan, W Y ^a   Law, A K Y ^a  

^a HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY   (Hong Kong)

Author keywords

Air temperature; Bacteria; Humidity; Microbes; Offices

Indexed keywords

AIR CONDITIONING; AIR TEMPERATURE; AIRBORNE BACTERIUM; ARTICLE; ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; FUNGAL CONTAMINATION; HUMIDITY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; THERMAL ANALYSIS;

FUNGI;

EID: 40549093602     PISSN: 1420326X     EISSN: 14230070     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X08089260     Document Type: Article

References (24)

1. Cox CS, Wathes CM: Bioaerosols in the Environment ; in Cox CS, Wathes CM. (eds): Bioaerosols handbook. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, 1995, pp. 11 - 14.
2. Hardin BD, Kelman BJ, Saxon A.: Adverse human health effects associated with molds in the indoor environment: J Occup Environ Med 2003 ; 45 (5). 470 - 478.
3. Bluyssen PM, Cox C., Seppänen O., de Oliveira Fernandes E., Clausen G., Müller B., Roulet C-A.: Why, when and how do HVAC-systems pollute the indoor environment and what to do about it? The European AIRLESS project: Build Environ 2003 ; 38 (2). 209 - 225.
4. Levetin E.: Fungi ; in Burge H. (ed.); Bioaerosols. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, 1995, pp. 87 - 120.
5. Otten JA, Burge HA: Bacteria ; in Macher JM. (ed.): Bioaerosols: Assessment and control. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, 1999 ; 18: 1 - 10.
6. HKEPD: Indoor Air Quality Information Centre. Indoor air quality certification scheme for offices and public places. Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, HKSAR, 2003.
7. WHO: Indoor air quality: biological contaminants. European Series No. 31, WHO regional publications, Copenhagen, 1999.
8. ACGIH: Guidelines for the assessment of bioaerosols in the indoor environment. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, 1989.
9. Ritchkoff A., Vittanen H., Koskela K.: The response of building materials to the mould exposure at different humidity and temperature conditions: Proceedindgs of Healthy Buildings, Espoo, Finland; 6-10 August 2000 ; 3:317-322.
10. Pasanen AL, Kasanen JP, Rautiala S., Ikäheimo M., Rantamäki J., Kääriäinen H., Kalliokoski P.: Fungal growth and survival in building materials under fluctuating moisture and temperature conditions: Int Biodeter Biodegr 2000 ; 46 (2). 117 - 127.
11. Wong MC: Indoor airborne fungi of Hong Kong: biodiversity, physiology and ecology: MPhil thesis. The City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, 1997.
12. Samson RA, Hoekstra ES, Frisvad JC, Filtenborg O.: Introduction to Food- and Airborne Fungi. The Netherlands, CBS, 2002.
13. Law AKY, Chau CK, Chan GYS: Characteristics of bioaerosol profile in office buildings in Hong Kong: Build Environ 2001 ; 36 (4). 527 - 541.
14. Lee SC, Li WM, Ao CH: Investigation of indoor air quality at residential homes in Hong Kong - case study: Atmos Environ 2002 ; 36 (2). 225 - 237.
15. Mui KW, Chan WY, Wong LT, Hui PS: Fungi - an indoor air quality assessment parameter for air-conditioned offices of Hong Kong: a case study: Building Services Engineer Res Technol 2007 ; 28 (3). 265 - 274.
16. Butala M., Crnigoj M., Zalar P., Butala V.: Isolation and identification of filamentous fungi from HVAC system: ISIAQ 7th International Conference, Singapore ; 7-11 December 2003 ;1:595-599.
17. Pejtersen J.: Sensory pollution and microbial contamination of ventilation filters: Indoor Air 1999 ; 6 (4). 239 - 248.
18. Harrison J., Pickering CA, Faragher EB, Austwick PK, Little SA, Lawton L.: An investigation of the relationship between microbial and particular indoor air pollution and the sick building syndrome: Resp Med 1992 ; 86 (3). 225 - 235.
19. Nelson NA, Kaufman JD, Burt J., Karr C.: Health symptoms and the work environment in four nonproblem United States office buildings: Scand J Work Env Hea 1995 ; 21 (1). 51 - 59.
20. Hui PS, Wong LT, Mui KW, Law KY: Survey of unsatisfactory levels of airborne bacteria in air-conditioned offices: Indoor Built Environ 2007 ; 16 (2). 130 - 138.
21. Wong LT, Mui KW, Hui PS: A statistical model for characterizing common air pollutants in air-conditioned offices: Atmos Environ 2006 ; 40 (23). 4246 - 4257.
22. Mui KW, Wong LT, Hui PS: Risk of unsatisfactory airborne bacteria levels in air-conditioned offices of subtropical climates: Build Environ 2008 ; 43 (4). 475 - 479.
23. Mui KW, Wong LT: Neutral temperature in sub-tropical climates - a field survey in air-conditioned offices: Build Environ 2006 ; 42 (2). 699 - 706.
24. Hui PS, Wong LT, Mui KW: An epistemic indoor air quality assessment protocol for air-conditioned offices: Indoor Built Environ 2007 ; 16 (2). 139 - 149.