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Bioaerosol Concentrations in the Quad Cities 1 Year after the 1993 Mississippi River Floods

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

M. Ross

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Health Effects Standards Group, Research Triangle Park, N.C., USA

V. Persky

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

P. Scheff

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

R. Wadden

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

V. Ramakrisnan

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

D. Hryhorczuk

Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago ., USA

Bioaerosol measurements were made in 45 Quad Cities, Illinois houses following the 1993 floods of the Mississip pi and Rock Rivers. Least squares log transformed means for fungal concentrations (in cfu m-3) were 1,449 in basements, 1,174 in living rooms, 1,234 in kitchens, 1,464 in first floor bedrooms, 1,197 in second floor bedrooms, and 2,590 outside. Mean least squares log transformed bacterial concentrations were 887 cfu m-3 in basements, 878 cfu m-3 in living rooms and 697 cfu m-3 outdoors. Levels of fungi and bacteria were not notably elevated in the basements or other rooms of the formerly flooded houses. Levels of fungi and bacteria indoors were significantly less in houses with dehumidifiers and in homes with natural gas odors. Air-conditioning during warm periods significantly reduced airborne concentra tions of fungi.

Key Words: Flooding • Bioaerosols • Fungi • Indoor air quality

Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 9, No. 1, 35-43 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X0000900108


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