Microclimate in two types of rat cages.
The microclimate in two types of rat cages (a Makrolon type IV with a solid floor and a stainless steel cage with a wire mesh floor (five rats per cage)) placed in the same macro-environment was compared. The temperature, relative humidity and ammonia concentration in the cages were measured twice a day for 8 days. The cages were cleaned every 4 days. The greatest difference between the cage types was in the ammonia build-up. In Makrolon cages the ammonia concentration never reached 5 ppm, whereas in steel cages it showed a constant increase and already exceeded the threshold limit for man (25 ppm for 8 h per day) on the third day after cleaning.
D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D002980:Climate; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006813:Humidity; D008834:Microclimate; D051381:Rats; D013696:Temperature
D000641:Ammonia