Air Conditioning – The Relief That Can Be Your Health's Nemesis

With hot, muggy weather and low air humidity, air conditioners, fans, and humidifiers can become a source of contamination.

It is common during this time of year for air conditioners, fans, or humidifiers to be used constantly to make the environment more pleasant. However, certain precautions must be followed to ensure that this practice does not become harmful to health.

Daily use of such equipment can generate a source of contamination by bacteria and fungi if regular preventative maintenance is not performed, as these microorganisms adhere to the equipment along with dust particles or water that can be deposited in the ducts of the air conditioner, on the fan blades, and in the humidifier's water reservoir.

These microorganisms detach from these locations every time the equipment is used and spread through the air current, potentially reaching people's airways through inhalation, triggering allergic processes, respiratory infections, and, in more severe cases, pneumonia.

So, what can be done to avoid suffering on hot days? The most correct practice is the constant sanitization of these pieces of equipment.

Regarding air conditioners, cleaning and replacing the filter are fundamental to ensure good air quality, always adhering to the manufacturer's technical standards, as dust particles and other impurities adhere to the filters. In cases of negligence in cleaning and maintaining this equipment, these particles can detach and be released into the air during use. It is also essential to eliminate all excess moisture that may remain in the air conditioner, as this will serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Among bacteria, the genus Legionella spp is considered very dangerous as it can lodge in the lungs, causing severe pneumonia.

For fans, it is essential to clean the blades and shafts, as daily use contributes to the accumulation of dirt, and during use, this dirt detaches and circulates in the air, potentially being inhaled by the occupants of the environment. Cleaning can be done with a damp cloth and 70% alcohol.

Regarding air humidifiers, daily water changes are important, as bacteria and fungi can quickly settle in this environment, and cleaning all parts of the equipment is necessary, remembering that it is fundamental to adhere to the manufacturer's technical standards.

For a safe climate-controlled environment, good sanitization practices are essential. Pay attention, do not let danger circulate around you.

Rosana F. Siqueira dos Santos – Doctor and professor of microbiology in the Biomedical Sciences course at Veris IBTA Metrocamp.

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