Title: Air Conditioner and Health: Is My Air Conditioning Killing Me? | Time
Headings: You Asked: Is My Air Conditioner Killing Me?
You Asked: Is My Air Conditioner Killing Me?
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Content: He also mentions an ominous-sounding phenomenon: sick building syndrome. “We started seeing it in the 70s and 80s,” Mendell says. “ People in office buildings started saying the building was making them sick.” He says sick building syndrome was associated with a range of seemingly unrelated symptoms: nasal congestion, breathing problems, headaches, fatigue and irritated skin. His own research has linked AC systems in office buildings to many of those same symptoms. “The most likely explanation is that there may be some microorganisms growing in the system that may have some subtle effect on certain people,” Mendell says. “ But it’s not clear how many people are sensitive to this or how big of a problem it is.” Unlike heating systems, the process of cooling hot air creates a lot of moisture and condensation, which must be channeled away, Mendell explains.