Have you got ‘sick building syndrome'? The 8 signs air conditioning at work could be making you ill

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Plus, what do if you think YOU have sick building syndrome
NOT A FAN Have you got 'sick building syndrome'? The 8 signs air conditioning at work could be making you ill
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AIR conditioning can feel like heaven on earth on a hot summer day.
It keeps the air cool and controls unbearable humidity, making indoors far more tolerable than outdoors on brutally hot days.
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Symptoms of 'sick building syndrome' can develop in anyone who spends extended periods of time in air-conditioned environments
Credit: Getty
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When an AC unit isn't working properly, it can release allergens, chemicals and airborne microorganisms into the air
Credit: Getty
But sometimes, this blissful invention can actually make you sick, a microbiologist has warned.
"If an air conditioning system malfunctions or isn't properly maintained, it can become contaminated with infectious microbes," Dr Primrose Freestone, from the University of Leicester, said.
This can transform an air conditioning (AC) from an ice queen to a raging infection machine, spurting a plethora of horrible bugs into the air, which can lead to anything from the common cold to pneumonia.
In fact, getting sick after spending extended periods of time in air-conditioned environments even has a name: "Sick building syndrome".
It is a term even recognised by the NHS, who describe it as the collective group of "symptoms you get while you're in a particular building".
According to the NHS, there are at least seven symptoms of sick building syndrome. These include:
Headaches Blocked or runny nose Dry, itchy skin Dry, sore eyes or throat Cough or wheezing Skin rashes Tiredness and difficulty concentrating
"The condition tends to occur in people who work in office settings, but can happen to anyone who spends extended periods of time in air-conditioned buildings such as hospitals," the expert wrote in a piece for The Conversation.
"The symptoms of sick building syndrome tend to get worse the longer you're in a particular building, and are alleviated after you leave."
Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection most commonly caused by breathing in water droplets containing Legionella germs
A 2023 study from India compared 200 healthy adults who worked six-to-eight hours per day in an air-conditioned office against 200 healthy adults who didn't work in AC.
The AC group experienced more symptoms aligned with sick building syndrome over the two-year study period - particularly a higher prevalence of allergies.
Importantly, tests revealed those exposed to AC had poorer lung function and missed work more often, compared with the non-AC group.
Meanwhile, other studies have suggested that AC office workers have a higher prevalence of sick building syndrome than those who do not work in an air-conditioned environment.
"It's suspected that one cause of sick building syndrome is malfunctioning air conditioners," the doctor explained.
This is because when an AC unit isn't working properly, it can release allergens, chemicals and airborne microorganisms into the air that it would normally have trapped.
What to do if you think you have sick building syndrome
If you think you have sick building syndrome speak to: Your manager or employer – if you get symptoms at work
The building manager or owner (such as the landlord) – if you get symptoms in another building
They should look into the problem and try to find a solution.
You can also get help and advice from the environmental health service at your local authority or your local Health and Safety Executive (HSE) office.
Source: NHS
They can also spurt out chemical vapours from cleaning products into the building's air.
Chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde and toluene are toxic and can irritate the respiratory system.
The nasty bugs you can catch from an AC
Poorly maintained air conditioning systems can also harbour bacterial pathogens which can cause serious infections.
Legionella pneumophila is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, a lung infection contracted from inhaling droplets of water containing these bacteria.
They tend to grow in water supplies that haven't been used much, such as taps, showers, hosepipes, and hot tubs.
The infection can be life-threatening and often requires hospitalisation.
Once the bacteria is inhaled, it can take up to 10 days for symptoms to appear, and they often resemble a bad case of flu at first.
These symptoms usually include a cough, a fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath.
Last month, Donna Jobling, 57, was left in a coma, fighting for her life after catching the bug while on an all-inclusive holiday in Greece.
'That could be from a misting fan, a spa pool, or an air-con system that hasn't been cleaned properly," Dr Frank, who is also head of Dr Frank's Clinic, said.
The accumulation of dust and moisture inside air conditioning systems can also create the right conditions for other infectious microbes to grow.
For example, research on hospital AC systems has found that fungi such Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Rhizopusspecies.
These all can accumulate within the water-rich areas of hospital ventilation systems.
"These fungal infections can be serious in vulnerable patients such as those who are immunocompromised, have had an organ transplant or are on dialysis – as well as babies who were born premature," Dr Primrose said.
For example, Aspergillus causes pneumonia, abscesses of the lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidneys and skin, and can also infect burns and wounds.
Symptoms of fungal infections are mostly respiratory and include persistent wheeze or cough, fever, shortness of breath, tiredness and unexplained loss of weight.
Viral infections can also be caught from air conditioning.
Norovirus, otherwise known as the winter vomiting bug, is typically transferred through close contact with an infected person or after touching a contaminated surface.
But sometimes, the virus can spread through the air, specifically through air conditioning units in classrooms.
One case study, mentioed by Dr Primrose, revealed that 20 children in a Chinese nursery class were infected with norovirus from their AC system.
On the flip, side, AC units can also help stop the spread of disease.
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Poorly maintained air conditioning systems can also harbour bacterial pathogens which can cause serious infections
Credit: Getty
"Research shows AC units that are regularly maintained and sanitised can reduce circulating levels of common viruses, including Covid", the doctor said.
"This is because air conditioners are designed to filter air contaminants, fungal spores, bacteria and viruses, preventing them from entering the air we breathe indoors.
"But this protective shield can be compromised if a system's filter is old or dirty, or if the system isn't cleaned."
Another reason AC may increase your risk of catching an infection is due to the way air conditioners control humidity levels,.
"This makes inside air drier than outside air," the doctor explained.
"Spending extended periods of time in low-humidity environments can dry out the mucus membranes in your nose and throat.
"This can affect how well they prevent bacteria and fungi from getting in your body, and can leave you more vulnerable to developing a deep-tissue infection of the sinuses."