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Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester

Can air conditioning really make you sick? A microbiologist explains

Symptoms of 'sick building syndrome' can develop in anyone who spends extended periods of time in air-conditioned environments. LightField Studios/ Shutterstock

Air conditioning can feel heaven-sent on hot summer days. It keeps temperatures comfortable and controls humidity, making indoor environments tolerable even on the most brutally warm days.

But some people avoid using air conditioning (AC) no matter how hot it gets outside, out of fear that it will make them sick. While this may sound far-fetched to some, as a microbiologist I can say this fear isn’t altogether unfounded.

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