Summer heat is at its peak, which means you probably have the air conditioner on at full blast.
You’re not alone. According to the International Energy Agency, the use of cooling fans and air conditioners accounts for around 10 per cent of all global electricity consumption. Nearly 90 per cent of U.S. citizens have a unit in their home.
Air-conditioning units help protect small children, the elderly and pets from the effects of extreme heat — but some doctors are worried that they can also cause health issues.
“The main concern with indoor air conditioning systems is that they need to be well maintained to reduce the risk of microbial contamination,” which is defined as the accidental introduction of microbes such as bacteria, yeast, mould and fungi.
Shroff said AC units should be checked regularly by an expert technician to avoid the buildup of stagnant water, as this can lead to mould and other dangerous microbes.
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Signs and symptoms
Microbes from stagnant water in your air conditioner can cause a wide array of uncomfortable symptoms.
Dry or irritated eyes, as well as a dry mouth, throat or nasal passages, are common.
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Dr. Venu Tadiboyina echoes Shroff’s concerns. He’s an internal medicine specialist at Scarborough General hospital in Toronto.
“If the building’s systems aren’t maintained properly, you can get a buildup of bacterial pathogens which can cause illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease (a severe form of pneumonia) or Pontiac fever,” said Tadiboyina.
The problem, said Tadiboyina, is that these symptoms are caused by several different illnesses, making it tricky for doctors to say definitively whether your air conditioner is the issue.
Fortunately, the more severe illnesses — like Legionnaires’ disease — are identifiable with further testing.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor.
‘Sick Building Syndrome’
A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in 2004 found that people who worked in air-conditioned office buildings were more likely to become sick than those who worked in buildings without central air.
Researchers, who compared buildings with air conditioning to buildings with natural ventilation, referred to this phenomenon at “Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS).
Lead researcher Dr. Mark J. Mendell said one possible explanation for the increase in illness is “the moisture in AC and humidification systems.” Mendell feared that moisture can result in “in microbiological exposures that cause health effects through mechanisms that are irritant, toxic or allergic.”
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Little research has been done on SBS, but Shroff — who isn’t an expert on the condition — said a poorly maintained AC unit in a large building could cause issues for the people who live or work there.
“If the air conditioning is not well-maintained… a large number of people in that building could be impacted,” she said. “It’s not just our air conditioning. It’s a syndrome that has been shown to cause health problems related to air quality.”
Shroff clarifies that natural ventilation would only be better than air conditioning if pollution levels were low. “It really depends on what’s going on with outside air,” she said.
In extreme heat, AC offers more benefits than pitfalls
Both Tadiboyina and Shroff believe the benefits of air conditioning outweigh the risks — especially during periods of extreme heat.
“Extreme heat is very dangerous,” said Tadiboyina. “It may not be as dangerous for young, healthy people… but there is a subset of the population that is very susceptible to heat.”
Tadiboyina said people with cardiovascular disease, physical disability and those who have previously had a stroke are at a higher risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Extreme heat is also more dangerous for people who abuse alcohol, cocaine or other stimulants, as well as anyone who takes beta blockers, diuretics or cold medication on a regular basis. “Air conditioning can offset this risk,” he said.
Another 2011 study from Yale University supported Tadiboyina’s claims. In it, researchers found that the use of air conditioning lowered the risk of hospitalization and death from cardiovascular disease and other issues in people age 65 and older.
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Shroff believes access to air conditioning during extreme heat is a matter of equality.
You should have your AC unit serviced at least once a year
Craig Goettler is the chief operating officer at Right Time Heating and Air Conditioning. He said that yearly service will ensure there isn’t any stagnant water in the evaporator coil of your air conditioner.
The evaporator coil is the part of your AC unit which absorbs the heat and humidity from the air in your house. If your evaporator coil has been collected moisture and then the moisture remains in place, mold will quickly grow.
“All the air that goes through your home flows over and out your evaporator coil,” Goettler said. “If you have mold buildup, you will have more being spread throughout your home.”
He also cautioned against leaving the same filter in your furnace throughout the summer months.
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