Effect of central air conditioning and meteorologic factors on indoor spore counts.

The effect of residential central air conditioning on indoor spore counts was investigated. Six pairs of residential buildings were monitored for three days. The homes were both air conditioned and non-air-conditioned. An Andersen sampler was used and outdoor measurements were also taken. Kitchens and bedrooms of air conditioned homes revealed significantly lower spore counts. The study used multiple regression analysis to show that the lower spore counts were associated with lower relative humidity. No difference was found in the percent concentration of the major genera in either type of home. The article concludes that the major mechanism in reducing spore counts in air conditioned homes is the closed windows.