Health Condition of Jobholders in Public Places with Centralized Air Conditioning System in Three Cities in South China

Objective To investigate the health condition of employees in public places with centralized air-conditioning system in three cities in south China.Methods From October 2008 to October 2009,a total of 626 employees in public places with centralized air-conditioning system were selected in three cities of the south China as exposed population to finish the questionnaire and the blood samples were collected.Meanwhile,a total of 582 employees from the same type public places without centralized air-conditioning system were selected as the control population.Serum Legionella pneumophila 1-7 IgG antibody,mycoplasma pneumonia IgG antibody and chlamydia pneumonia IgG antibody were detected in all available samples.IgG,IgA,IgM and C-reaction protein were tested in selected samples.Results The positive rates of Legionella pneumophila 1-7 IgG antibody,mycoplasma pneumonia IgG antibody and chlamydia pneumonia IgG in the employees in public places with centralized air-conditioning system were 3.0%(19/626),29.4%(184/625) and 72.7%(455/626),respectively;no significant difference was seen between exposed population and control population in the positive rate of Legionella pneumophila 1-7 IgG antibody(P0.05);Compared with the control group,the incidence of symptoms including nasal obstruction,snivel,throat dryness and itch,frequent cold,eyes drying,eyes itch,hypopsia,skin dryness,headache,chest pain and fatigue were higher in exposed group(P0.05);The average concentrations of IgG[(13.270±3.157) g/L] in exposed group was significantly increased compared with the control group(P0.05).Conclusion The immunity level and incidence of symptoms including respiration system,eye and skin may be used as the sensitive biomarkers responding to the potential health effects of public places with centralized air conditioning system.