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Indoor climate indices and microbiological airborne contamination were evaluated in a department of a general hospital in Bologna only partially equipped with an air conditioning system. To determine the environmental parameters, an ANADATA (LSI) climate analyzer with relative transducers was used. The Effective Temperature (ET), the New Effective Temperature (ET*) and the Fanger indices (PMV-PPD) were calculated using the parameters measured. Microbial count measurements were taken with an S.A.S. (Surface Air System) sampler, to ascertain the total bacterial count at 37 degrees C, and the fungal particle, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa counts. Carbon dioxide air concentrations were also measured to evaluate the efficacy of air exchange. The Fanger indices were not within the range of thermal comfort in most rooms (52% in winter, 62% in summer). Air microbial counts were higher in the hospital wards and surgeries than in the offices and laboratories. In particular, coagulase-positive staphylococci were present only in the air of the patients' rooms. The microbial contamination was not correlated with the air conditioning system, but probably caused by the turnover in the hospital population, the number of people and their behaviour. However the most important measure to prevent airborne contamination and to reduce the number of microorganisms in the air is an efficient source control. Better management of the air conditioning system, by means of adequate air exchange and thermal adjustment, would lead to a notable improvement in indoor air quality, especially in units with hospitalized patients.

In response to a request from the personnel of a credit bank that had been moved into a new building, an evaluation was made of employee health complaints. The prevalence of symptoms was determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Ventilation effectiveness, contaminant concentrations (which included chemicals and bioaerosols) and microclimate were studied to establish their relationship to environmental discomfort and to the health problems mentioned by the employees. Indoor air quality--which was assessed in different seasons--revealed relatively high levels of carbon dioxide and bioaerosols in areas occupied by employees as compared with other places. Temperature and humidity were considered to be satisfactory. Although a causative agent was not isolated, the authors conclude that an ineffective rate of room air exchange, possibly in interaction with chemical contaminants, may be responsible for the discomfort and, perhaps, for the health symptoms experienced by workers in fully enclosed rooms.