Health hazards caused by fungi in stored wood chips

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · For. Prod. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5676411

Thoernquist, T; Lundstroem, H

In connection with using wood chips for fuel in heating buildings, a number of people in Sweden were taken ill with a respiratory allergy similar to wood trimmer's disease and farmer's lung. The disease is presumably caused by airborne fungal particles (spores and hyphae) which are inhaled when working with infected wood chips. The occurrence of fungal particles in the air in wood chip storage rooms, halls, and kitchens was studied in 64 buildings heated by chips. Sampling was carried out by exposing 9-cm petri dishes containing malt agar. In the chip storage rooms of 10 of the 64 buildings examined, more than 500 fungal colonies were recorded before disturbing the chips. After disturbance the number of buildings with more than 500 colonies increased to 28. In the halls in three of the buildings and in the kitchens of two, more than 500 fungal colonies were recorded. The number of fungal particles in wood chip storage is mainly dependent on the condition of the raw material before chipping, tree species, and the final storage period. To reduce the risk of large numbers of fungal particles in stored chips, the trees should be limbed before chipping and the stems preferably dried. Hardwood chips are more easily infected by fungi than chips of coniferous wood. The storage of wood chips for periods longer than 3 months should be avoided and a Class 2B protective mask should always be worn when handling chips feared to be infected by fungi. (Refs. 5).

• Research Organization: Swedish Univ of Agriculture Science, Dept of Forest Products, Box 7008, S-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 5676411
• Journal Information: For. Prod. J.; (United States), Journal Name: For. Prod. J.; (United States) Vol. 32:11/12; ISSN FPJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDINGS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
FUNGI
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MEASURING METHODS
PLANTS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
STORAGE
WOOD
WOOD FUELS