Microbial Health Implications of Evaporative Coolers

Title

Microbial Health Implications of Evaporative Coolers

Files

Keywords

Swamp Cooler, Evaporative Cooler, Asthma, Allergies, Microbiome

Abstract

Evaporative Cooling is one of the oldest and most energy efficient methods of air conditioning used in dry, arid environments The diagram below shows how these machines function by drawing hot, dry ambient air across a wet evaporative pad, effectively cooling the interior environment as sensible heat is transferred to latent heat in the form of water vapor In this study we explore how evaporative coolers ( may distribute unique bacteria into homes through microbial growth propagated in the sump water There is evidence that this diverse microbial environment provided by ECs may confer early life immunological protection against the development of allergies and asthma 1 2 Specifically, previous investigations have shown higher levels of endotoxin in dust from homes with ECs compared to homes with central air conditioning units Endotoxins are found on gram negative bacteria, and have been shown to significantly affect respiratory health and development High through put DNA sequencing of the V 1 V 2 region of the 16 s rRNA gene allows us to identify, categorize and analyze these different bacterial and archaeal taxa found in homes utilizing different air cooling methods

Loading...

Media is loading
 

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2022-3

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Public Health

University Standing at Time of Publication

Junior

Microbial Health Implications of Evaporative Coolers

Share

COinS