Should I worry about breathing air-conditioned air all summer long?
Q: My office runs air conditioning all summer. Should I worry about breathing air-conditioned air all day?
A: In a system that is well maintained and clean, there should be no health concerns. In fact, properly air conditioned spaces lead to increased productivity and energy levels. If a workplace is too hot, people can’t function well. The only reason for concern would be if a system were not kept clean. Since air is being condensed as it passes through the chilling system, water is removed and that water has to go somewhere. If it is not properly drained it can lead to microbial growth, but it is not a common problem.
Q: Can air conditioning make me feel tired and my skin and eyes feel drier?
A: Because water is being removed from the air, the air can feel drier. But that feeling of dryness is more often from working in front of a computer screen all day. Physiologically, we don’t blink as often when using computers and that makes our eyes feel dry. If your office is running the air conditioning too cool this can also make the air feel drier because more water is condensing as the air is chilled. If that’s the case, I encourage you to speak to your building maintenance staff. There is no need to run air conditioning so that it feels cold. It’s a waste of energy and it makes people feel uncomfortable. As for fatigue, there is no evidence it is linked to air conditioning.
Read the full interview here.
Dr. Karen Bartlett is a professor in the School of Population & Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Health Division in the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
Ali Duke
It is difficult to read complaints about air-conditioned work environments when we have no air conditioning in all but a few select acute wards at LGH, This is downright debilitating in the hot Summer months. It takes a huge toll on our productivity and health, and is particularly concerning with respect to employees working pregnant or under other medical stressors. It’s certainly not in the best interest of our patients, either. I’m looking forward to news on when we can expect a positive change, since the infrastructure we have is not compatible with our current environmental conditions and certianly not with the changes we anticipate will come with further global warming.