Health Research

Your air conditioner
could be making you sick

Most people don't connect their symptoms to their AC. The science on mould, mycotoxins, and respiratory illness tells a different story.

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What grows inside your air conditioner

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Stachybotrys (Black Mould)

The dangerous one. Produces macrocyclic trichothecenes — among the most potent mycotoxins known. Linked to chronic asthma, lung fibrosis, and immune suppression. Thrives in the constant moisture of AC cooling coils.

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Aspergillus & Cladosporium

Fast-growing and extremely common in Australian AC units. Aspergillus triggers allergic reactions and is dangerous for asthmatics and the immunocompromised. Cladosporium worsens wheezing and respiratory symptoms.

What we find inside most ACs

This unit had visible mushroom mould growing on the fan. The black water is what comes off after the first pass.

Same process we do on every job. HEPA vacuum. Antimicrobial treatment. Full strip and clean.

How spores enter your lungs

2–10 microns
Average mould spore size — small enough to bypass your body's natural defences
Smaller than spores
Mycotoxin particles detected on fragments smaller than spores — penetrate deeper into lungs
Every room
One contaminated AC circulates spores through the entire ducted system

People report these warning signs

Waking up with a blocked nose or persistent cough

Itchy, watery eyes that worsen when the AC is running

Musty, earthy smell from vents when heating kicks in

Increased asthma symptoms during winter months

Children coughing at night — but fine during the day

Nausea, headaches, or dizziness with no clear cause

What scientists just discovered

Hintikka et al. — Science of the Total Environment (Jan 2025)

A landmark study tracked people exposed to Stachybotrys for nearly 40 years. Two people with asthma from the same building had opposite outcomes: one developed chronic, irreversible lung disease; the other had their asthma declared cured after moving to a clean environment.

The study also developed a new way to detect black mould spores in household dust — a low-cost early warning system. The conclusion was clear: removing the source changes outcomes.

Who's most vulnerable

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Children & Infants

A 2015 review found sufficient evidence that dampness and mould cause asthma exacerbations in children. Developing lungs are more susceptible to airborne toxins.

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Asthmatics & Elderly

Mould is a known asthma trigger. Elderly people with reduced immune function and pre-existing respiratory conditions are at significantly higher risk.

A clean costs less than a doctor's visit

One professional clean eliminates the source. No ongoing treatments. No lock-in contracts. Just clean air all winter.

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