Got That Driving Itch? No, It’s Just Car Fungus Bothersome Spores That Thrive In Ac Unit Nothing To Sneeze At

There’s a fungus among us as we chill out in our air-conditioned cars. Many fungi, in fact.

Call it sick-car syndrome.

Condensation in the system makes a home for nasty spores that invade a car’s AC and feed on insect parts trapped inside. Before long, the vents are spewing fungi and a “dirty-sock odor” along with relief.

“The first thing people get are the classic allergy symptoms. Your eyes get itchy, your nose starts running, and you start to sneeze,” said Robert Simmons, a microbiologist at Georgia State University who has studied the problem.

The fungus contamination is worst in the sticky Southeast, although no one knows what proportion of vehicles is affected.

Simmons unveiled his findings this week at the American Society for Microbiology Conference in Miami Beach, a gathering of 12,000 researchers from around the globe.

His team dismantled the air-conditioning units of 32 cars, from luxury to economy classes, and all were infested. They found more than a dozen fungi, with names like cladosporium, aspergillus and penicillium.

Most are mere nuisances, but a few can occasionally trigger serious reactions. Some give off toxic byproducts.

“If you’re allergic or sensitive to these fungi, it doesn’t take very much to irritate you,” Simmons said. “If you’re not sensitive, it won’t matter at all.”

Most AC shops can clean and dry the parts and spray them with an anti-fungal coating for $50 to $100. It may not kill the fungi for good.

A few automakers offer factory-installed air filters that can be cleaned at home or at the shop. Separate filter units can be installed for $500.

You can try to stop the fungus before it starts growing. Upon reaching your destination, turn off the AC but keep the blower running for a few minutes to help keep the system dry and unfriendly to fungus.