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Serum IgG antibodies to mold spores in two norwegian sawmill populations: Relationship to respiratory and other work‐related symptoms
Author(s) -
Eduard Wijnand,
Sandven Per,
Levy Finn
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700240207
Subject(s) - medicine , serology , antibody , immunology , respiratory system , paecilomyces , biology , botany
Wood trimmers and planing operators from two separate sawmill populations (N = 303 and 170) were studied by serology assessment and a self‐administered questionnaire. IgG antibodies to Rhizopus microsporus ssp. rhizopodiformis, Paecilomyces variotti , and Aspergillus fumigatus were measured by ELISA. The questionnaire included questions about general respiratory symptoms and symptoms after handling moldy timber. Personal exposure of wood trimmers to mold spores and wood dust was measured in one part of the sawmills. R. microsporus was the most prevalent mold assessed by serology. Antibody levels were higher and symptoms suggestive of mucous membrane irritation, chronic nonspecific lung disease, allergic alveolitis, and organic dust toxic syndrome were more frequently reported by wood trimmers than by planing operators. The mean level of IgG antibodies to R. microsporus in sawmill workers working in the same work area was the best predictor of symptoms in both populations. The consistent results indicate that exposure to spores of R. microsporus may cause several respiratory symptoms in wood trimmers. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.