A new study shows workplace air conditioning can cut the health risks posed by bushfire smoke. 

Beyond providing a cooler environment, air conditioning systems have been shown to capture particles from bushfire smoke, reducing exposure to dangerous elements such as soluble mercury, sulphate, and nitrate.

A recent study, spearheaded by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) PhD candidate Raissa Gill and supported by a team from UTS and UNSW Sydney, has brought to light the crucial role of air conditioning in safeguarding indoor air quality during bushfire events. 

The 2019-2020 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in Australia, marked by extensive devastation, propelled this investigation into the composition of bushfire smoke and its implications for human health. 

Gill and her colleagues employed commercial air conditioning filters at UTS to capture and analyse the particulate matter, revealing that daily concentrations during the bushfires were up to three times higher than usual, with peaks reaching over ten times the norm.

The analysis highlighted the presence of finer, more spherical particles in bushfire aerosols compared to typical urban aerosols. These characteristics make them more likely to be inhaled deeply into the lungs, posing significant health risks. 

The study also found these particles contained higher levels of toxic chemicals, including soluble forms of mercury and elevated concentrations of sulphate, nitrate, and other harmful ions and metals.

The implications of these findings could be profound, especially for urban centres like Sydney, where air quality is generally good but can be severely compromised by bushfire smoke and dust storms. 

According to UTS Associate Professor Fraser Torpy, understanding the effects of such high pollution events is vital for protecting community health.

Interestingly, while heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are not specifically designed to filter out bushfire smoke, they have proven effective in doing so. 

The study highlighted the significant reduction in indoor exposure to toxic particles, thanks to the air conditioning filters at UTS. 

As climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of bushfires, the need for bushfire-prepared infrastructure, including efficient air filtration systems, becomes ever more critical. 

More details are accessible here.