Title: Home Humidifiers as a Potential Source of Exposure to Microbial Pathogens, Endotoxins, and Allergens
Abstract: Indoor AirVolume 5, Issue 3 p. 171-178 Home Humidifiers as a Potential Source of Exposure to Microbial Pathogens, Endotoxins, and Allergens Richard L. Tyndall, Richard L. Tyndall Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Bdg. 9207 MS-8077, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8077, USA Tel.: (615)574-0686. Fax: (615)574-1274Search for more papers by this authorEva S. Lehman, Eva S. Lehman Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., USASearch for more papers by this authorElicia K. Bowman, Elicia K. Bowman A&G Technical Associates, Knoxville, TN, USASearch for more papers by this authorDonald K. Milton, Donald K. Milton Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames M. Barbaree, James M. Barbaree Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USASearch for more papers by this author Richard L. Tyndall, Richard L. Tyndall Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Bdg. 9207 MS-8077, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8077, USA Tel.: (615)574-0686. Fax: (615)574-1274Search for more papers by this authorEva S. Lehman, Eva S. Lehman Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., USASearch for more papers by this authorElicia K. Bowman, Elicia K. Bowman A&G Technical Associates, Knoxville, TN, USASearch for more papers by this authorDonald K. Milton, Donald K. Milton Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames M. Barbaree, James M. Barbaree Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1995 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.1995.t01-1-00003.xCitations: 21AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The propensity of various types of home humidifiers to support and disseminate microbial contaminants into indoor air was tested. Reservoir water and air discharged from humidifiers seeded in the laboratory or naturally contaminated in the home were analyzed by standard microbiological methods. Clinically insignificant as well as overt or potentially pathogenic microorganisms were found to colonize the reservoirs of all types of humidifiers, but only cool mist and ultrasonic units readily aerosolized bacteria and endotoxin. Only cool mist units emitted hydrophobic fungal spores. Cool mist units discharged the greatest number of water particles in the inhalabk size range (4–16 μm) while ultrasonic units were more likely to emit respirable-sized water particles (< 0.2–4 μm). Overt pathogens isolated from humidifiers in homes included Legionella and a pathogenic Acanthamoeba. Aerosolizing humidifiers should thus be avoided if frequent, thorough cleaning of the units is not practical. References Alary, M. and Joly, J.R. 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