Air conditioning doesn't just cool the air – it can also reduce the risk of harm from bushfire smoke, new research suggests.
Air conditioning in our workplaces doesn't just cool the air – it can also help trap particles from bushfire smoke and reduce our exposure to potentially harmful elements like soluble mercury, sulfate and nitrate, new research shows.
Bushfire smoke can cause or exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease, and lead to an increased risk of hospitalisation and death.
The study, recently published in the journal Environmental Pollution, was led by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) PhD candidate in environmental science, Raissa Gill, a recipient of a UTS Research Excellence Scholarship, together with researchers from UTS and UNSW Sydney.
Read more at University of Technology Sydney