CORRELATIONS OF PARTICLES, ALLERGENS, FUNGI AND BACTERIA IN AIR AND CHAIR DUST IN A HOSPITAL SETTING

摘要

An environmental survey was conducted in two hospital buildings, one of which had a history of water incursion on the top floors and a cluster of work-related asthma. Sampling focused on air measurements for ultrafine particles (<1 μm), culturable fungi, culturable bacteria, fungal spores, endotoxin and latex allergen. Chair dust was analyzed for culturable fungi, culturable bacteria, endotoxin, mouse urinary protein, and latex, cat, dust mite, and cockroach allergens. In general, air concentrations were higher and chair concentrations were lower in the health complaint building. The air measurements for total fungal spores, total culturable fungi, ultrafine particles, and airborne endotoxin were significantly correlated with each other. Endotoxin concentration in chair dust was significantly correlated with total culturable fungi. No significant correlations were found between air and chair measurements. Our data suggest that exposure ranges both within and between buildings require consideration when investigating associations between health effects and environmental measures.