Aims: The aim of our study was to investigate indoor air quality (IAQ) by comparing pyrogen concentration and microbiological contamination in offices in public buildings.
Methods and results: Air samples were collected during cold and warm seasons in 39 offices in four European cities. Pyrogens were measured by the in vitro pyrogen test (IPT), moulds and bacteria by classical microbiology. In 92% of the investigated offices, pyrogen and microbial contaminations were below 150 EEU m(-3) and 10(3) CFU m(-3), respectively, whilst in 75%, moulds did not exceed 10(2) CFU m(-3).
Conclusions: The IPT is a rapid, reliable tool for measuring pyrogens that could be used as an 'early warning' indicator of IAQ.
Significance and impact of the study: This is the first study on pyrogenic compound detection in offices using IPT, which could serve for developing future indoor air guidelines.