Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis
Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis or farmer’s lung or bird fancier's lung as commonly known is a disease more common in farming relates workers. It is caused by inhaling dust resulting from crops such as straw, hay, corn, tobacco etc.
Cause
Inhalation of these allergic dusts causes inflammation and scarring in the air sacs and their supporting parts of the lung. This sort of scarring and inflammation results in lowered blood oxygen level.
Many occupational substances such as silica (sand) dust, asbestos, coal dust, and cotton dust can cause lung disease. People who work in industries with heavy exposures to known causes of occupational lung disease (for example, coal miners, sand-blasters, ship workers) are usually screened routinely for lung disease.
Occasionally, bird keeping or bathing in hot tubs cause some forms of Alveolitis.
working in the following condition are most likely to cause alveolitis,
- Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, cultivation of edible fungi or malt-working
- Loading or unloading or handling in storage mouldy vegetable matter or edible fungi
- Caring for or handling birds
- Handling bagasse
Symptom
The symptoms of alveolitis depending on level of exposure to dust particles could vary. Usually if the level of exposure was mild and over a short period a person might see these symptoms; shortness of breath, dry cough, feeling unwell.
If exposure to these dusts was for a long period of time, there is chance that the lung could become permanently damaged and the risk could be fatal.
Prevention
Health and Safety measures at work, avoiding pastimes which provoke the illness, adequate maintenance of hot tubs/indoor swimming pools and humidifiers. Avoid exposure to agents that are known to cause Lung Disease.
Silicosis related Compensation Law
If a person has developed farmer’s lung or alveolitis due to the negligence of an employer, he or she may be able to make an occupational illness claim. This is on the basis that the employer was unable to provide safe working environment or eliminate the risks. Employees are protected from exposures to harmful substances in the workplace by “The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988” or COSHH for short.
Please be sure to check all the information beforehand with DWP or other related agency. It could also help for you to contact a industrial illness claims solicitor to help you process your claims application.
Credit to lifespan.org