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A Disturbance in the Force
Let this be a lesson to all home renovators, house flippers, and construction workers: There is more to worry about during remodeling and renovation projects than asbestos or lead paint. Last May, 14 people in Quebec, Canada became sick after they were exposed to dust stirred up by a home renovation. The culprit? Bat droppings, according to Dr. Jean-Luc Grenier, a medical consultant at the Laurentians Public Health Department.
Family doctor recognizes problem
“We had a declaration from a family doctor who had seen two cases, and he was astute enough to realize that something was probably going on at [their] work,” Grenier said. The work involved tearing down a century-old home’s brick exterior which had become cracked. The homeowners were afraid the wall might fall, and so called in professionals to complete the renovation safely. Unfortunately, no one could have foreseen the other danger lurking behind the wall.
Bat droppings to blame
“There were probably some bats that were able to live there in between the bricks and the [interior] walls,” Grenier said. This build up of bat droppings became an incubator of histoplasmosis spores which would have built up over time and then become easily airborne when the bricks were pulled down. Histoplasmosis is a pneumonia-like illness with symptoms including high fever, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Everyone made a full recovery
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an investigation which concluded 30 people had been exposed, 14 of which developed symptoms. Those who became sick included the two homeowners, six masonry workers, a visitor to the house, three debris sorters, and two neighbors with a bedroom window facing the demolished wall. Two were admitted to the hospital, but everyone recovered fully without the need for antifungal medication.
Prevention is key
Since there’s no way to be sure dust is free of spores before renovation or demolition, labor regulations say anyone who works around demolition sites should wear masks or respirators while potentially spore-laden dust is in the air. Cases of histoplasmosis in Canada are very rare, occurring mostly around construction sites with construction workers being the most vulnerable to aerosolized spores. The Calgary Herald reported, “In this case, the workers had been given masks but didn’t wear them continuously because the weather was hot.”
Interior Decorating and Remodeling News Brought to You by BaseBoardHeaterGuru.com
Source:
calgaryherald.com/health/Lung+infection+outbreak+tied+droppings+stirred+house+renovation/9346313/story.html
Family doctor recognizes problem
“We had a declaration from a family doctor who had seen two cases, and he was astute enough to realize that something was probably going on at [their] work,” Grenier said. The work involved tearing down a century-old home’s brick exterior which had become cracked. The homeowners were afraid the wall might fall, and so called in professionals to complete the renovation safely. Unfortunately, no one could have foreseen the other danger lurking behind the wall.
Bat droppings to blame
“There were probably some bats that were able to live there in between the bricks and the [interior] walls,” Grenier said. This build up of bat droppings became an incubator of histoplasmosis spores which would have built up over time and then become easily airborne when the bricks were pulled down. Histoplasmosis is a pneumonia-like illness with symptoms including high fever, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Everyone made a full recovery
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an investigation which concluded 30 people had been exposed, 14 of which developed symptoms. Those who became sick included the two homeowners, six masonry workers, a visitor to the house, three debris sorters, and two neighbors with a bedroom window facing the demolished wall. Two were admitted to the hospital, but everyone recovered fully without the need for antifungal medication.
Prevention is key
Since there’s no way to be sure dust is free of spores before renovation or demolition, labor regulations say anyone who works around demolition sites should wear masks or respirators while potentially spore-laden dust is in the air. Cases of histoplasmosis in Canada are very rare, occurring mostly around construction sites with construction workers being the most vulnerable to aerosolized spores. The Calgary Herald reported, “In this case, the workers had been given masks but didn’t wear them continuously because the weather was hot.”
Interior Decorating and Remodeling News Brought to You by BaseBoardHeaterGuru.com
Source:
calgaryherald.com/health/Lung+infection+outbreak+tied+droppings+stirred+house+renovation/9346313/story.html
