Sick Building Syndrome: How Air Conditioning Becomes a Health Hazard

 

As temperatures rise during the summer, air conditioning provides a comfortable indoor environment by regulating temperature and humidity. However, another aspect that doesn't receive much attention is the potential health risks associated with air conditioning, especially if they are not properly maintained.

Although some may consider the fear of air conditioning exaggerated, microbiologists believe that these concerns have a scientific basis.

A malfunctioning or neglected air conditioning system can turn them into an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria and microorganisms, making them a potential source of transmission of a variety of diseases, from the common cold to pneumonia

Sick Building Syndrome

The term "sick building syndrome" refers to a group of health symptoms that occur in people who spend extended periods in air-conditioned buildings.

These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, a stuffy or runny nose, a persistent cough, skin irritation, poor concentration, and fatigue.

These cases are most often recorded among office workers, but they can also affect patients and hospital staff, or any environment that relies on air conditioning for extended periods.

In a 2023 study published in India, 400 employees—half of whom worked in air-conditioned offices and the other in a conventional environment—were compared over a two-year period.

The results showed that those working in air-conditioned offices were more likely to experience symptoms of "sick building syndrome," as well as higher rates of allergies, poor lung function, and increased absence from work compared to their colleagues.

Air Conditioning Malfunction... A Silent Threat

Health experts believe that one of the main factors behind this syndrome is malfunctioning or inadequate maintenance of air conditioning systems.

When these systems are not operating efficiently, they can release harmful particles such as allergens, chemicals, and airborne microbes into the air—pollutants that the system is supposed to remove, not spread.

Some air conditioners may also release fumes from cleaning products or refrigerants, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene, which are toxic substances that cause respiratory irritation and may harm long-term health.