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An outbreak of respiratory diseases among workers at a water-damaged building--a case report
M Seuri1, K Husman, H Kinnunen
1Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Finland. markku.seuri@occuphealth.fi
Abstract:
We describe a military hospital building with severe, repeated and enduring water and mold damage, and the symptoms and diseases found among 14 persons who were employed at the building. The exposure of the employees was evaluated by measuring the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibodies against eight spieces of mold and yeast common in Finnish water and mold damaged buildings and by sampling airborne viable microbes within the hospital. The most abundant spieces was Sporobolomyces salmonicolor. All but one of the employees reported some building-related symptoms, the most common being a cough which was reported by nine subjects. Four new cases of asthma, confirmed by S. salmonicolor inhalation provocation tests, one of whom was also found to have alveolitis, were found among the hospital personnel. In addition, seven other workers with newly diagnosed rhinitis reacted positively in nasal S. salmonicolor provocation tests. Skin prick tests by Sporobolomyces were negative among all 14 workers. Exposure of the workers to mold and yeast in the indoor air caused an outbreak of occupational diseases, including asthma, rhinitis and alveolitis. The diseases were not immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated but might have been borne by some other, as yet unexplained, mechanism.
Insights
Water-damaged military buildings caused occupational diseases like asthma and rhinitis in 14 employees. Mold exposure, particularly Sporobolomyces salmonicolor, triggered symptoms not mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE).
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Mycology
Background:
- Water and mold damage in buildings can lead to significant health issues for occupants.
- Assessing indoor microbial exposure is crucial for understanding building-related illnesses.
Observation:
- A military hospital experienced severe water and mold damage.
- Fourteen employees were evaluated for building-related symptoms and diseases.
- Sporobolomyces salmonicolor was identified as the most abundant airborne mold species.
Findings:
- Nine out of 14 employees reported coughs; most experienced building-related symptoms.
- Four new cases of asthma and seven of rhinitis were diagnosed, linked to S. salmonicolor exposure.
- Inhalation provocation tests confirmed S. salmonicolor as the cause of asthma and rhinitis, but not immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated.
Implications:
- Indoor mold and yeast exposure can cause occupational diseases, including asthma, rhinitis, and alveolitis.
- The mechanism behind these mold-induced diseases may not involve immunoglobulin E (IgE) and requires further investigation.
- This study highlights the importance of addressing indoor environmental quality in preventing workplace health problems.