As Heat Rises, Air Conditioning Becomes Dangerous
There are a few things that most people think about as an outcome of global warming. One is that the use of air conditioning is expected to soar. It, along with AI server farms, is highly likely to stress the US grid beyond its capacity and drive up the need for new energy sources.
Despite its potential life-saving value when the heat rises above 100 degrees F, it carries some danger. The first of these is mold. According to The New York Times, “A review of that research published in 2011 concluded that exposure to dampness and mold is associated with exacerbations of asthma, coughing, wheezing and upper respiratory symptoms, but it did not establish that mold was the cause.”
100 Degree Heat
The EPA has offered its opinion on mold problems. “They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.”
Air conditioning use is nearly universal in some parts of the country. The temperature in Phoenix today is 115 degrees. It is 112 degrees in Las Vegas. The area of the US that will have 100-degree temperatures this week has expanded to 17.
As is the case with problems involving household appliances, there is likely to be a fix. In the meantime, air conditioning is not without risks.
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