[Frequency and importance of mold sensitization in bakery workers]

Mycological, allergological and immunological, as well as occupational-hygiene investigations were made in a large baking products plant in an attempt to find an answer to the questions as to whether allergic respiratory diseases produced in bakers by mold fungi may be considered occupational diseases. In addition, a retrograde analysis was made of a number of statements made by experts in occupational medicine for bakers, confectioners, and control persons. In the case of bakers, recognition as an occupational illness of an allergic respiratory disease caused by such mold fungi as Aspergillus and Mucor is fully justified in view of the agreement between the increased rate of sensitization of those exposed to the mentioned mold fungi and the results of extensive mycological tests. The results of occupational-hygiene investigations made using a specialized airborne dust sampler showed that bakers working in this large baking products plant were exposed to considerable amounts of dust. The results obtained also show that it is absolutely necessary for remedial measures to be taken under control by occupational hygienists.