Acute lung injury after massive household endotoxin exposure

Household exposures may result in a variety of respiratory illnesses. Most of these inhalation injuries are benign and self-limited. However, an acute injury that results in exacerbation of asthma or chronic fibrosing processes may be life-threatening. We report the case of a patient who suffered a massive household dust exposure when the bag of his upright vacuum cleaner exploded. Inhalation of the dust resulted in respiratory distress characterized by non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. We believe this is the first report of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a result of endotoxin exposure from the inhalation of household dust.