Posted By Geoff S Bottomley
Working on a construction site we have been warned that there is a possibility that during our demolition phase we will be required to protect ourselfs from Aspergillosis (Farmers Lung).

I am under the impression that this lung ailment is caught from areas such as farms were the spores are released from mouldy hay. Am I correct or can this be also be caught from the dust created from demoltion on building sites.

Posted By MichaelM
It is also farmers lung.

Please find below information from a biological material safety data sheet. Hope it is useful. It is a bit scientific but effectively it is a mould (or part of) that is breathed in. RPE is essential.

Michael

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Aspergillus spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. flavus, Aspergillosis, Farmer's lung

CHARACTERISTICS: Rapidly growing mold with septate hyphae and conidia; differentiation on basis of conidiophores and conidia

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Variety of forms of infection depending on species involved, i.e. aspergilloma, aspergillosis pneumonia; aspergillosis is characterized by pulmonary infiltrates, eosinophilia and a rise in IgG; immunosuppressed individuals are prone to develop an acute pneumonia with multifocal infiltrates expanding to consolidation; dissemination to other organs (eg. cardiac valve) is common; most common cause of otomycosis; clinical manifestation and severity are largely determined by the general immunologic state of the patient

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; uncommon; hospital air and airducts associated with nosocomial outbreaks; high aflatoxin and other mycotoxins produced by A. flavus correlated to heptocellular cancer in Africa and Southeast Asia

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Inhalation of airborne conidia

INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; few days to weeks

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person to person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Widely distributed in nature; in soil, cereal grains, hay and other plant material or foodstuff

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to amphotericin B, itraconazole or voriconazole

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1 % sodium hypochlorite,, 2% glutaraldehyde; susceptibility to 70% ethanol and phenolics questionable (0.4% chlorine for 2 min has been recommended for surface disinfection of food samples)

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by heat and irradiation

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Spores are very resistant; survive in soil and decaying matter for a long time

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm microscopically using potassium hydroxide.

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer amphotericin B; reduce immunosuppressive therapy where possible; surgical intervention in unusual "solid" lesion cases

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date (many non-laboratory occupationally-acquired infections have been reported).

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Sputum; soil and environmental samples may contain infectious conidia

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Inhalation of conidia

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for activities involving the fungus or infectious body fluids and tissues

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypchlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

Posted By MichaelM
Smurfer

This is of course only if they are competent to hold the paper towel!!

Posted By angela westwood
Geoff

we conducted a risk assessment re this particular subject due to combined demolition works/new build on a hospital project that was within my patch.

Our main remit was to establish the "at risk "profile and whether any of our patients or staff fitted the picture of those who could become ill as a result of inhaling aspergillus spores. The Aspergillus serotypes, mainly fumigatus and flavus are not just found in mouldy hay but also can be found lurking within the inherent fabric of a premise or ventilation shafts, false ceilings etc. A guidance notice was issued via NHS estates re this nasty little devil as in immuno suppressed people it can cause a severe and sometime fatal condition called aspergillosis.

Also at risk appparently are those on long term steroid treatment - so in theory asthmatics may fit this picture. Air monitoring to discover whether the spores are present is a useful control but not the whole picture. You may wish to verify the risk assessment and control measures that your company have taken. I communicated with the HSE and asked if we were taking the right approach - they agreed and said our approach and controls were acceptable. There is an aspergillus website, tap it into your search engine and it should bring up a wealth of information.