Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and sensitization by mould antigens among a group of maltworkers.

Riddle, H. F. V. (1974). British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 31, 31-35. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and sensitization by mould antigens among a group of maltworkers. The prevalence of allergic alveolitis, chronic respiratory symptoms, and sensitization by antigens from mould spores was investigated in 114 men employed at five maltings. Twentyfive carpet workers were used as a control group. Chronic respiratory symptoms were commoner among maltworkers than among the controls. One probable case of allergic alveolitis was discovered in a maltworker. More than half the maltworkers were found to have precipitating antibodies in their serum against antigens from mould spores of Aspergillus clavatus, Penicillium granulatum, Penicillium citrinum or Rhizopus stolonifer. There was no obvious correlation between sensitization to these and the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms.