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Air Conditioning and Your Health

george123 on Sun April 04, 2010 8:05 AM User is offline

Country of Origin: Indonesia

AIR conditioning has proved to be a boon to those who must live and work in hot and humid climates. It has been a large factor in the development of the “Sun Belt” of the United States. Without it, not many would choose to live for weeks on end where daily summer temperatures range from 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or even hotter.

But, like many blessings of technology, air conditioning is not without its drawbacks. The ease of fingertip control of the temperature has led many to overuse it. “If cool is good, cooler is better,” has been their thinking. But medical researchers are now beginning to recognize hazards to health in the immoderate use of air conditioning.

Many persons with various ailments do not need to be told that excessive air conditioning hurts them. People with arthritis find their joints more painful. Those with neuritis have the pain aggravated. A person with sinus trouble comes out with his head congested. One with chronic middle-ear infection risks an acute flare-up of his illness.

In addition to the immediate trauma to those so afflicted, there are more subtle damages to the well-being of the healthy. These are of such a nature that the cause may not even be suspected. But when persons who work in air-conditioned quarters are compared with others, they are found to be more susceptible to all kinds of minor ailments.

Morton Walker says in his book Total Health: “Thermal stress affects the body when it becomes overheated or chilled. An example is sitting in a draft or walking into an air conditioned store from a broiling hot street on a summer day. The body responds, but when forced to do so too often, it shows symptoms of illness.”

Studies in New York city showed that people do not get acclimated to summer temperatures the way they did before air conditioning was used. The result is that severe heat waves now take a higher death toll. The trend is to build apartments and office buildings shut off from outside air. This trend risks suffering and death from heat if an extended power shortage occurs.

Experts who are concerned about the long-term effects of air conditioning suggest we ought not to rely entirely on refrigeration for cooling. The designing of buildings to take advantage of natural ventilation, more use of fans only to move the air, and evaporative cooling are some of the alternatives.

For those whose specific ailments are aggravated by air conditioning, the obvious remedy is to avoid it as much as possible. But of those in good health, not many will consider an obscure or future threat to their health a sufficient reason to forgo the immediate comfort of air conditioning. Nevertheless, prudence would tell us to at least be moderate in our dependence on it.

In public buildings you may be at the mercy of custodians who make it their goal to create a polar environment. All you can do is finish your business and get out. But where you work, and in your own home, you can do something about it. Perhaps an enlightening discussion with fellow workers will lead to a consensus to avoid overcooling. And at home, remember that your air conditioner is not to make you cold, just comfortable. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees, or higher if you wish. You will find this a healthier climate in which to live.

HECAT on Mon April 05, 2010 6:30 AM User is offline

...not many will consider an obscure or future threat to their health a sufficient reason to forgo the immediate comfort of air conditioning.

True

...you may be at the mercy of custodians who make it their goal to create a polar environment.

That's my goal.

Your post seems irrelevant at a site that supports the repair and use of air conditioning. But, thank you for the warning.

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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

2005Equinox on Tue April 06, 2010 1:08 AM User is offline

That goes both ways. To me if you set it at 78 you might as well not use it at all. Does this person set it so it is JUST comfortable in the winter too? Or do they set it to 78 then too? people come up with so many phobias about air-conditioning that it isn't funny. Why isn't there phobias about heating your house to 80 degrees when it is below 0 outside?

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2008 Chevrolet Impala LS
1981 Pontiac Bonneville


2007 Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor


1985 Chevrolet Caprice


1986 John Deere 165 lawn tractor

NickD on Tue April 06, 2010 6:04 AM User is offline

Major problem with HVAC and even the airliners is limiting the number of air exchanges per hour in a closed confined space where mold, bacteria, and viruses can multiply in the ventilation system. Augmented by jamming a bunch of people in a confined space with them generating excess amounts of CO2 that causes drowsiness.

Fresh air intake in a vehicle really isn't fresh air when fed by the exhaust pipe in the vehicle in front of you.

Picked up a weird virus in my last airline flight, just one person can infect 300 or more people. Its cheaper to reheat or cool existing air than to bring in fresh air occasionally. This is what the problem is, not the temperature.

MikeH on Wed April 07, 2010 9:51 AM User is offline

Hey guys, I have a question. 2005Equinix talked about keeping the temp at 78F. In a humid environment, like here in DFW, wouldn't that keep the humidity down? Lower humidity generally means more comfort - no sticky clothes.

Voyager97 on Wed April 07, 2010 11:06 AM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: 2005Equinox
Why isn't there phobias about heating your house to 80 degrees when it is below 0 outside?

There is such a phobia in the UK.

It's called a Climate Change Levy.



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Vic @ Pennine AutoChill

k5guy on Wed April 07, 2010 3:53 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: NickD
Major problem with HVAC and even the airliners is limiting the number of air exchanges per hour in a closed confined space where mold, bacteria, and viruses can multiply in the ventilation system. Augmented by jamming a bunch of people in a confined space with them generating excess amounts of CO2 that causes drowsiness. Fresh air intake in a vehicle really isn't fresh air when fed by the exhaust pipe in the vehicle in front of you. Picked up a weird virus in my last airline flight, just one person can infect 300 or more people. Its cheaper to reheat or cool existing air than to bring in fresh air occasionally. This is what the problem is, not the temperature.

Nick,

A typical commercial airliner uses turbofan engines. They have a surplus of compressed air since the engine has to compress the air for the engine to operate. Aircraft bleeds a little of this air off and provides it in the overhead blower you find in a typical airline seat. I find turning this air on, and directing at my face will keep most of the germs from other passengers away.

Turbofan:


In a typical airliner, about 1/2 the air is fresh. What isn't fresh is run through HEPA filters.

Airline Cabin Air Systems

Regards,
Bill

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Send me e-mail

2005Equinox on Thu April 08, 2010 2:07 AM User is offline

For the record we keep ours at 71 degrees in the summer. What I was saying earlier is that at 78 degrees it isnt going to run enough to make much difference anyway. I would rather be cool than hot since our climate is generally cool anyway. And yes the A/C works in all of my cars. And 78 degrees in an enclosed building for me isnt healthy. Makes me feel claustrophobic. Like i said this is the same guy that would heat his house to 78 degrees in the wintertime here in Wisconsin and think thats ok.

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2008 Chevrolet Impala LS
1981 Pontiac Bonneville


2007 Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor


1985 Chevrolet Caprice


1986 John Deere 165 lawn tractor

Edited: Thu April 08, 2010 at 2:11 AM by 2005Equinox

NickD on Thu April 08, 2010 9:57 AM User is offline

So Boeing is now claiming half the air is fresh. Doing some math, that means the other half is recirculated, but that is on the new stuff. What about the old stuff? Tempted to bring my CO2 and O2 meters with me on the next flight I take, but sure they would be confiscated as those guards wouldn't know what he heck they were for.

When I was making many flights, always was picking up some foreign virus, and got another one just last month from my first flight in a year. Make believe you are getting fresh clean air. Consumers Report had several articles on this subject over the years, normally don't believe half of what hey say, but do believe about contamination in airliners when they jam 300-400 people in a tight sealed can.

And the more fresh air they bring in, the more fuel they will consume, since they are now charging three bucks for a bag with two peanuts in it now, probably will be charging extra for air.

k5guy on Thu April 08, 2010 11:37 AM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: NickD
So Boeing is now claiming half the air is fresh. Doing some math, that means the other half is recirculated, but that is on the new stuff. What about the old stuff? Tempted to bring my CO2 and O2 meters with me on the next flight I take, but sure they would be confiscated as those guards wouldn't know what he heck they were for.

When I was making many flights, always was picking up some foreign virus, and got another one just last month from my first flight in a year. Make believe you are getting fresh clean air. Consumers Report had several articles on this subject over the years, normally don't believe half of what hey say, but do believe about contamination in airliners when they jam 300-400 people in a tight sealed can.

And the more fresh air they bring in, the more fuel they will consume, since they are now charging three bucks for a bag with two peanuts in it now, probably will be charging extra for air.

I think Boeing is saying the planes are capable of changing the air out, but that doesn't mean the airlines do exactly what is recommended. The article you are talking about is from the Wall St Journal. Consumer Reports cites the WSJ as the source.


Wall St Journal Report on Aviation Air Quality, dated 7/2009

If you are really concerned about it, do the Michael Jackson thing, and wear a mask everywhere you travel.



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Send me e-mail

Edited: Thu April 08, 2010 at 11:39 AM by k5guy

MikeH on Fri April 09, 2010 9:03 AM User is offline

I have close to 2,000,000 air miles and never once did I ever get sick - cold/flu/etc - from flying. And, this includes time back when smoking was allowed in the back of the plane. I think this air/health issue is totally overblown.

pettaw on Sun April 11, 2010 5:47 AM User is offline

One problem with drawing the air in through using the inlet fans of the engines is you very often get engine oil fumes leaking past the oil seals and getting into the cabin air. That's why I've quite often noticed a quite oily smell particularly when they first spin up the engines after initial taxi from the stand.......nearly every time and I don't fly so often

Edited: Sun April 11, 2010 at 5:48 AM by pettaw

MikeH on Sun April 11, 2010 8:55 AM User is offline

You are absolutely right about the oily smell. While I was flying, occasionally there would be fog in the cabin for a few seconds while the airplane was reaching for altitude. A pilot explained that we had just passed thru a very dense cloud layer and the moisture overwhelmed the air conditioning compressor. I always wondered if that was the real reason.

HerkyJim on Sun April 11, 2010 3:54 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: MikeH
You are absolutely right about the oily smell. While I was flying, occasionally there would be fog in the cabin for a few seconds while the airplane was reaching for altitude. A pilot explained that we had just passed thru a very dense cloud layer and the moisture overwhelmed the air conditioning compressor. I always wondered if that was the real reason.

Problem with providing "fresh air" for the cabin is there ain't no air at 39,000 ft. a.k.a. Flight Level 390 a.k.a. FL 390 (well a little bit; enough to run a gas turbine engine at 400 knots, but not nearly enough to sustain human life). So if you're flying unpressurized at 39,000 feet, you're breathing 100% oxygen and under pressure at that. Backwards: relax to inhale; work to exhale. Not much fun after a while, especially if you have things to do like navigate using a sextant, and doing arithmetic with a pencil and paper.

So the turbine-powered airplanes I'm familiar with use an "air-cycle" type air-conditioning and pressurization system. Take "bleed air" off the engine after the compressor and before the burners and use it. 600*F and 125psi. Expand some of it across a turbine and it gets cool real quick. Cool enough that ice pellets will fly out of the outlets if the temp controller isn't keeping it above freezing. Mix the cool with some of the hot and shoot it out into the cabin and cockpit. Control the leakage with a pressure controller that regulates the outflow to maintain a desired cabin pressure . Provide a safety valve so it won't burst the pressure vessel you're in in case of a malfunction.

An oil leak in the compressor (or propeller) will indeed contaminate the air you breathe and smoke or suspected smokes/fumes/aerosols/dusts/mists/vapors etc. from the air-con system is a "grounding item" in my experience. Flying through moisture probably loosens enough deposits to temporarily contaminate the system.

We had one one place I was years ago that would cause a visible haze back in the cargo compartment. Finally isolated it to one of the four engines and left that engine bleed air valve closed. I think they finally had to change the engine on that one.

NickD on Mon April 12, 2010 6:04 AM User is offline

Use to use shrouds around the exhaust manifold or even the muffler in the 1920's to get heat in the cabin of cars, but quit doing that when people started dying from CO poisoning. But still using that principle in aircraft. With cars today, have to be concerned about even a pinhole leak in a hot water heating system, the anti-freeze can cause kidney damage.

Find it humorous to read any manual regarding the integrity of your own exhaust system for leaks that can lead to death when you have a zillion other exhaust pipes around you. I minimize the use of my own recir door, actually prefer to drive with my window down, but can't do that with kids or women aboard. Can only recall a small handful of times I picked up a bug on an airliner with lots of years of traveling, the last flight is most fresh in my mind.

pettaw on Sun April 25, 2010 3:46 PM User is offline

I guess most people are fairly immune to all the toxins from the oil, because I watched a "Panorama" documentary where they were described as 'fume events' and apparently they're not that rare.

iceman2555 on Sun April 25, 2010 9:17 PM User is offlineView users profile

Seems as post is 'much to do about nothing'...perhaps a 'greenie' who wishes us all 'save' the planet. Heard an older George Carlin monologue the concerning the state of 'earth warming'. It was quite enlightening. Miss that guy.
For what is worth....I purchased my home with the most efficient AC possible at the time....currently considering an updated system....but in reference to this post....I purchased this unit to make my home as comfortable and as cold as I wish it to be.
As HECAT stated this post is irrelevant....heck it is totally ridiculous.....think I'll turn my controller down to 70...get it verrrrrrrrrrrry comfortable.....besides FL Power needs the extra cash.
Oh as a side note,have noticed that in many hotels that AC activation is keyed to movement in the room. The sensor detects a lack of movement and shuts the unit down. Set the thermo as low as you wish...but after about an hour,the darn thing shuts down. This can make for some very uncomfortable evenings. The only way I can sleep in a hotel is to turn the AC down as low as possible and 'hibernate' for the evening. That is acceptable....I paid the room rate to allow me that freedom.
Ya'll have fun out there tomorrow!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

NickD on Tue April 27, 2010 4:36 AM User is offline

Is you suffer from hay fever or asthma, air conditioning can be a life saver. Also accustomed to listening to news in high polluted cities warning the population to stay indoors. Would think if all your windows and doors were wide open, that wouldn't make any difference. Also reports about people dying in overheated buildings during heat waves without AC.

These are just some counter arguments against the posted article.

Sure like my wife's condo in Venezuela, 25 miles outside of Caracas built on top of a 3,300 foot mountain, air is clean, windows are always open, never gets below 65 or above 75*F, really don't need AC nor even a furnace. But Chavez makes living there pure hell, can't win. And auto parts are unreasonable, 700 US bucks to change three belts in a car!

Caracas sucks, smells like my sealed garage if my vehicle develops a fuel tank leak. Down in a hole, there you find plenty of AC.

Steve Stifler on Wed June 17, 2015 8:18 AM User is offlineView users profile

Air conditioning can help to relieve asthma and other respiratory symptoms, it is important to maintain your unit properly to avoid excess moisture around the unit itself, which can harbor bacteria and fungi. A poorly maintained air-conditioning unit, or an old one, can send those bacteria and fungi right into your airways. So maintain your AC.

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