PubMed1981
None of the test series carried out with completely different parameters (summation measurements of different type for SO2, fluorine, chlorides as well as germ counts for air) have indicated that the people living on the higher floors of tower blocks are exposed to a greater burden than those living on lower floors. On the contrary, the chloride analyses and also ther germ counts made on the balconies showed that such tower blocks are exposed to dust and dirt swirling up from the streets from the second up to the sixth floor (max. pollution on the third floor). In the stairwell, the highest germ count was made on the ground floor, as was to be expected. Needless to say, these results apply only to the conditions prevailing here. Somewhat different results may be obtained in other places, under different conditions regarding location and building structure. However, the results clearly show that the assumption that the upper storeys of high-rise buildings are exposed to a higher burden cannot be generally valid with respect to the parameters used. This is the least that our results indicate.