Conventional air conditioning system versus cooling towers: an environmental health assay

ABSTRACT

The role played by Freon air conditioning systems versus cooling towers on the health of their users was studied. The maximum and minimum temperatures with the relative humidity were measured inside 30 Freon air conditioned houses and 28 houses ventilated with cooling towers in Majma'ah city of Saudi Arabia. The main indoor difference between the two groups of houses was the very low relative humidity, during summer, in the first group [15%] in contrast with 65.3% in the second one. Sick building syndrome was evident among adults in the first group while allergic manifestations were abundant among children living in houses equipped with cooling towers. Proper design and construction of housing environment could relieve most of these effects. In addition, cooling towers cleaning and disinfection would prove effective in decreasing the growth of microorganisms inside these appliances