SERUM IGG ANTIBODIES TO MOLD SPORES IN 2 NORWEGIAN SAWMILL POPULATIONS - RELATIONSHIP TO RESPIRATORY AND OTHER WORK-RELATED SYMPTOMS

Wood trimmers and planing operators from two separate sawmill populati ons (N = 303 and 170) were studied by serology assessment and a self-a dministered questionnaire. IgG antibodies to Rhizopus microsporus ssp. rhizopodiformis, Paecilomyces variotii, and Aspergillus fumigatus wer e measured by ELISA. The questionnaire included questions about genera l respiratory symptoms and symptoms after handling moldy timber. Perso nal exposure of wood trimmers to mold spores and wood dust was measure d in one part of the sawmills. R. microsporus was the most prevalent m old assessed by serology. Antibody levels were higher and symptoms sug gestive of mucous membrane irritation, chronic nonspecific lung diseas e, allergic alveolitis, and organic dust toxic syndrome were more freq uently reported by wood trimmers than by planing operators. The mean l evel of IgG antibodies to R. microsporus in sawmill workers working in the same work area was the best predictor of symptoms in both populat ions. The consistent results indicate that exposure to spores of R. mi crosporus may cause several respiratory symptoms in wood trimmers. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.