Air conditioners (ACs) can save lives and keep us comfortable on blistering days. But they may also carry health risks -- namely, those related to mold. This was highlighted again last week, when the manufacturer Midea voluntarily recalled about 1.7 million air conditioners because of a design flaw that encouraged mold growth.
While that flaw made mold growth more likely, any air conditioner can get moldy, no matter how well designed it is. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk, NYT News Service reported.
What are Health Risks?
Despite the ubiquity of air conditioners and their tendency to get moldy, there is not much scientific literature on the health effects.
One of the few such studies, published in 2003, found that when the cooling coils and drain pans inside office air conditioning systems were irradiated with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and fungi, workers reported fewer respiratory and other symptoms.
For the most part, though, we must extrapolate from broader research that has examined the health effects of dampness and mold in indoor environments, but not specifically in air conditioning systems.
A review of that research published in 2011 concluded that exposure to dampness and mold is associated with exacerbations of asthma, coughing, wheezing and upper respiratory symptoms, but it did not establish that mold was the cause. Another review published in 2015 found enough evidence to say that dampness and mold were a reason for exacerbations of asthma in children.
Researchers have found that these types of symptoms are more common in buildings where people can see or smell mold, said Mark Mendell, a former air pollution research specialist at the California Department of Public Health and former staff scientist and public health researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. said, but studies haven't proven connections between symptoms and measurements of specific fungi levels. It's possible that researchers haven't measured the right kinds of mold, or that other factors are involved.
"It seems likely that some dampness-related microbiologic exposures will turn out to be the cause of the health problems, but we just don't know for sure yet," Mendell said.
What Precautions Can You Take?
Basic air conditioner maintenance, such as regularly cleaning filters, can help prevent mold growth. Many window units have a light that indicates when cleaning is needed, but once or twice a month is a good rule of thumb.
Whether you have window units or central air, controlling humidity in your home, with a dehumidifier if necessary, is also helpful. And it's a good idea to keep your home clean in general, because that will limit the amount of dust, a food source for mold, that can get into the air conditioner. Running an air purifier can remove both dust and mold spores.
But these precautions aren't a panacea. You should inspect your air conditioner periodically, especially if it has been unused for an extended period, such as over the winter.
Mold may be visible around the vents, and a flashlight can help you look deeper. If you're up for it, you can also disassemble a window unit according to the instructions in the manual, to more closely inspect and, if necessary, clean the coils and the drain pan.
A1. The full form of ACs is air conditioner.
Q2. What is basic air conditioner maintenance?
A2. Basic air conditioner maintenance, such as regularly cleaning filters, can help prevent mold growth. Many window units have a light that indicates when cleaning is needed, but once or twice a month is a good rule of thumb.
While that flaw made mold growth more likely, any air conditioner can get moldy, no matter how well designed it is. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk, NYT News Service reported.
What are Health Risks?
Despite the ubiquity of air conditioners and their tendency to get moldy, there is not much scientific literature on the health effects.
One of the few such studies, published in 2003, found that when the cooling coils and drain pans inside office air conditioning systems were irradiated with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and fungi, workers reported fewer respiratory and other symptoms.
For the most part, though, we must extrapolate from broader research that has examined the health effects of dampness and mold in indoor environments, but not specifically in air conditioning systems.
A review of that research published in 2011 concluded that exposure to dampness and mold is associated with exacerbations of asthma, coughing, wheezing and upper respiratory symptoms, but it did not establish that mold was the cause. Another review published in 2015 found enough evidence to say that dampness and mold were a reason for exacerbations of asthma in children.
Researchers have found that these types of symptoms are more common in buildings where people can see or smell mold, said Mark Mendell, a former air pollution research specialist at the California Department of Public Health and former staff scientist and public health researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. said, but studies haven't proven connections between symptoms and measurements of specific fungi levels. It's possible that researchers haven't measured the right kinds of mold, or that other factors are involved.
"It seems likely that some dampness-related microbiologic exposures will turn out to be the cause of the health problems, but we just don't know for sure yet," Mendell said.
What Precautions Can You Take?
Basic air conditioner maintenance, such as regularly cleaning filters, can help prevent mold growth. Many window units have a light that indicates when cleaning is needed, but once or twice a month is a good rule of thumb.
Whether you have window units or central air, controlling humidity in your home, with a dehumidifier if necessary, is also helpful. And it's a good idea to keep your home clean in general, because that will limit the amount of dust, a food source for mold, that can get into the air conditioner. Running an air purifier can remove both dust and mold spores.
But these precautions aren't a panacea. You should inspect your air conditioner periodically, especially if it has been unused for an extended period, such as over the winter.
Mold may be visible around the vents, and a flashlight can help you look deeper. If you're up for it, you can also disassemble a window unit according to the instructions in the manual, to more closely inspect and, if necessary, clean the coils and the drain pan.
FAQs
Q1. What is full form of ACs?A1. The full form of ACs is air conditioner.
Q2. What is basic air conditioner maintenance?
A2. Basic air conditioner maintenance, such as regularly cleaning filters, can help prevent mold growth. Many window units have a light that indicates when cleaning is needed, but once or twice a month is a good rule of thumb.
