Istanbul Medical Chamber: Poorly Maintained Air Conditioners Create Breeding Ground for Legionnaires' Disease

Air conditioning use, which becomes widespread during summer months, carries health risks created by maintenance neglect. Dr. Emrah Kırımlı, a member of the Istanbul Medical Chamber's Board of Directors, stated in comments to Cumhuriyet Gazette that air conditioners whose filters are not regularly cleaned can create an environment for bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease — a severe form of pneumonia — as well as mold and fungal spores.

Kırımlı noted that these spores can spread through the air and trigger allergic reactions. Emphasizing that the presence of an ill person in enclosed spaces can facilitate virus transmission through air circulation, Kırımlı explained that the majority of complaints commonly known among the public as 'air conditioning shock' actually stem from allergic reactions or viral infections.

Experts in this regard recommend that air conditioning filters be cleaned at least once a month, that the air conditioner be adjusted so as not to cause abrupt temperature differences, and that spaces be ventilated regularly.