House-dust mite antigens are a major contributor to allergic sensitisation. Since temperatureand humidity are crucial to house-dust mite physiology, there is considerable interest inreducing mite populations by controlling the indoor environment.
Fungal spore content in dust accumulated in air ducts was investigated in 24 mechanically ventilated single-family houses of which 15 had also a central air heating system. Dust was collected from the ducts simultaneously with cleaning of the ventilation systems. Besides spore concentrations and flora of culturable fungi, total fungal spore concentrations were determined in dust samples by the aqueous two phase technique and spore counting with epifluorescence microscopy.