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Humidifier Fever, Contaminated HVAC and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis *
Author(s) -
Fink Jordan N.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1998.tb00009.x
Subject(s) - hypersensitivity pneumonitis , indoor bioaerosol , hvac , medicine , aerosolization , ventilation (architecture) , immunology , lung , inhalation , chemistry , air conditioning , environmental chemistry , engineering , mechanical engineering , anatomy
Heating, cooling and ventilation systems have been modified over the years for comfort and energy gains. The designs of these systems allow for accumulation of microorganisms which are aerosolized into the environment served by the system. Such contaminations may results in several febrile illnesses which may have a toxic or immunologic basis. Humidifier fever is related to toxic effects of inhaled endotoxin according to the evidence, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis is related to an immune response to organic dust or microorganism bioaerosols.