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Normal Range Criteria for Indoor Air Bacteria and Fungal Spores in a Subarctic Climate
Author(s) -
Reponen T.,
Nevalainen A.,
Jantunen M.,
Pellikka M.,
Kalliokoski P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1992.03-21.x
Subject(s) - subarctic climate , environmental science , spore , indoor air , environmental health , range (aeronautics) , ventilation (architecture) , snow , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , toxicology , environmental engineering , geography , biology , medicine , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering , geology , aerospace engineering
Indoor air bacteria and fingal spore levels were studied in 71 non‐complaint homes. lk data were analyzed according to the season and the higher limit of the range within which 95% of the cases fall was computed. On the basis of the data the following highest normal levels are proposed for winter: for bacteria 5000 cfulm 3 and for fingal spores 500 cfulm 3 . The recommended levels apply in a subarctic climate for urban and suburban homes when the measurements are made using the same method as in this study. We recommend that if abnormal indoor sources are suspected, indoor samples should be taken in winter when the ground is frozen and covered with snow. At that time, the background levels are at their lowest and the abnormal indoor sources are most easily detected. lk recommended levels should not be used as an indicator of a health risk, but as an indication of abnormal indoor sources or insufficient ventilation.