There are times when I am extremely thankful for air conditioning -- usually after I have had a long workout on a hot summer's day and am still sweating after a cold shower. The cold, dry air is invigorating and refreshing. But usually, after about 30 minutes, I find myself shivering and needing to go back outside. Indeed, I have found that the majority of homes I have visited and more so, public offices and stores, the air conditioning temperature is set so low that I find myself feeling sick so that I have to step outside. I also find that I am more tired and my muscles more sore from shivering all day. So I decided to look into why this is and what we should all know about air conditioning. To begin, I do contest to the positive side of air conditioners, as they are beneficial to those individuals who suffer from asthma and allergies, as pollen and dust are filtered through the system. The air conditioners also dry out the humidity and usually clean out the air, enabling us to breathe cleaner air and not be over-run by heat stroke.

The problem is, however, that these systems need to be extremely well-maintained, checked and cleaned, or all these benefits are trumped by breathing problems and infections. More so, keeping the room temperature so cold has other negative consequences. These are the top five negative health consequences that you want to be aware of:When air conditioners are not cleaned thoroughly and filters changed, a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and fungi is created. These systems especially can be home to black mold, as moisture can build up in the coils and ducts from condensation that forms when the cool air passes through. When these microorganisms go air-borne, they can lead to a multitude of breathing problems, including a potentially fatal infectious pneumonia, Legionnaire's disease, caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. Remedy: Make sure your air conditioning systems are cleaned regularly and the filter changed every few months. 2. Fatigue, headaches and generally feeling ill.

Many individuals find that after a day of work, they often feel more tired than usual, headachy and a general sense of malaise. They also find that once they leave the building, the symptoms often resolve. how do rv ac units workSometimes termed "sick building syndrome," it may be that air conditioning may be the cause. my ac unit will not turn offIn a study published in the Aug. 19, 2004 International Journal of Epidemiology, people working in office buildings with central air conditioning had more symptoms of illness than those who did not work in buildings with central air.custom ac units Remedy: Raise the temperature slightly so that you are not shivering and take regular breaks to step outside for fresh air and for your body temperature to equilibrate.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning us that we may be more exposed to pollutants inside than outside, especially because central air conditioning does not bring in fresh air but circulates old air. This means that if there is mold, dust, animal dander or other people in the building have viruses or air-borne infections, individuals are more prone to be exposed and get sick. Remedy: Some systems are built to a low in a "leak" from the outside. You can create your own leak by cracking open a window even slightly.The more time you spend in an air-conditioned environment, the dryer your skin may become, as the cold, dry air can cause your skin to lose its moisture. Your hair may suffer such ill effects as well. Remedy: Get a great moisturizer! 5. Visiting the doctor more often. Studies have shown that that individuals who spend more time in air-conditioned environments have an increased use of health care services. An analysis found more visits for complaints related to ears-nose-and throat problems, respiratory and dermatological problems.

There were also an increased number of sickness absences. Remedy: Do all of the above and ensure that other aspects of the room or car are thoroughly cleaned, like carpets, curtains and the like. Health Integrative Medicine Lifestyle WellnessSelect LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu

What is "indoor air quality"? Indoor air quality (also called "indoor environmental quality") describes how inside air can affect a person's health, comfort, and ability to work.  It can include temperature, humidity, lack of outside air (poor ventilation), mold from water damage, or exposure to other chemicals.  Currently, OSHA has no indoor air quality (IAQ) standards but it does provide guidelines about the most common IAQ workplace complaints. What is considered good IAQ? The qualities of good IAQ should include comfortable temperature and humidity, adequate supply of fresh outdoor air, and control of pollutants from inside and outside of the building. What are the most common causes of IAQ problems? The most common causes of IAQ problems in buildings are: Not enough ventilation, lack of fresh outdoor air or contaminated air being brought into the building Poor upkeep of ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems, and Dampness and moisture damage due to leaks, flooding or high humidity

Occupant activities, such as construction or remodeling Indoor and outdoor contaminated air How can I tell if there is an IAQ problem in my workplace? People working in buildings with poor IAQ may notice unpleasant or musty odors or may feel that the building is hot and stuffy. Some workers complain about symptoms that happen at work and go away when they leave work, like having headaches or feeling tired. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath can be symptoms of a more serious problem. Asthma and some causes of pneumonia (for example, Legionnaires’ Disease and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis) have been linked to IAQ problems. If you have symptoms that are not going away or are getting worse, talk to your doctor about them. But not all exposures cause symptoms, so there is no substitute for good building management. Is there a test that can find an IAQ problem? There is no single test to find an IAQ problem. Your employer should check measurements of temperature, humidity and air flow.

In addition, inspection and testing of the ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems (to make sure it is working according to specifications for building use and occupancy) should be performed. A building walk-through to check for odors and look for water damage, leaks, dirt or pest droppings may be helpful. Leaks need to be eliminated. Standing water in humidifiers, air conditioning units, on roofs and in boiler pans can become contaminated with bacteria or fungi and need to be eliminated, also. In some circumstances, specific testing for radon or for asbestos may be required as part of building occupancy. For instance, in schools asbestos needs to be checked every three years and re-inspected every 6 months (under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act-AHERA). What should my employer be doing to prevent IAQ problems? Employers are required to follow the General Duty Clause of the OSHAct, which requires them to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury.  

The OSHAct also requires employers to obey occupational safety and health standards created under it. Employers should be reasonably aware of the possible sources of poor air quality, and they should have the resources necessary to recognize and control workplace hazards. It is also their responsibility to inform employees of the immediate dangers that are present.Specific state and local regulations may apply. Is there any specific information that I should keep track of to identify IAQ problems at work? The following information may be helpful to your doctor or your employer to figure out if there is an IAQ problem at your workplace: Do you have symptoms that just occur at work and go away when you get home?  What are these symptoms? Are these symptoms related to a certain time of day, a certain season or certain location at work? Did the symptoms start when something new happened at work, such as renovation or construction projects? Are there other people at work with similar complaints?

Did you already see a doctor for your symptoms, and if so, did the doctor diagnose an illness related to IAQ? If I think there is an IAQ problem at work or I think my office or building where I work is making me sick, what can I do? If you are concerned about air quality at work, ask your employer to check the ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems and to make sure there is no water damage. If you think that you have symptoms that may be related to IAQ at your work, talk to your doctor about them to see if they could be caused by indoor air pollution. Under the OSHAct, you have the right to contact an OSHA Office (see a map of OSHA offices) or to contact OSHA’s toll-free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or TTY 1-877-889-5627. Workers who would like a workplace inspection should send a written request (see area office addresses). A worker can tell OSHA not to let their employer know who filed the complaint. It is against the Act for an employer to fire, demote, transfer or discriminate in any way against a worker for filing a complaint or using other OSHA rights.

For more information on filing a request for an on-site inspection and the investigation process, see the webpage. States with OSHA-approved state plans provide the same protections to workers as federal OSHA, although they may follow slightly different complaint processing procedures. You may also request a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). At no cost to employers or workers, NIOSH may investigate workplace health hazards in response to requests from employers, employees and their representatives, and federal agencies. For more information, see NIOSH's Health Hazard Evaluation Program. Thank You for Visiting Our Website You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server. The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server.