Safety Tidbit #15-Oh no, I have bird droppings everywhere!

“I need you to sample I have that Histoplasma thingy?”  I calmly told the person on the phone I don’t need to sample, if you have an accumulation of bird dropping in the soil then yes you the Histoplasma capsulatum or H. capsulatum fungus in your soil.  “So we have a problem with histoplasmosis?”  Well yes and no.  If you are going to disturb the soil and make the fungus spores airborne then yes you have an increased risk of exposure.  If the fungus is somewhere that no employees work then, the risk is minimal. 

H. capsulatum grows in many soils in the United States and around the world.  The disease histoplasmosis that arises from exposure to H. capulatum is most prevalent in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys.  People who are immunocompromised (e.g. AIDS, Diabetes, etc.), the elderly, and the very young are at greatest risk. For healthy adults, infected people only display mild flu-like symptoms that resolve by themselves in a few days.

However, if exposure is an issue, then the first logical step is to remove the birds or bats from the location.  Once the source of nitrogen (droppings) is eradicated the area can be cleaned and disinfected.  Dust suppression controls (water) must be employed while removing the contamination.  Furthermore, personal protective equipment (e.g., Tyvek coveralls and NIOSH-approved respirators) should be used while cleaning up the area.  Clean, impervious surfaces (e.g., wood, metal, plastic, etc.) left behind thoroughly.

Some occupations with risk of exposure to H. capsulatum:

•         Bridge Inspectors

•         Painters

•         Chimney Sweeps

•         Demolition Workers

•         Farmers/gardeners

•         HVAC installer and service technicians

•         Pest Control Workers

•         Roofers

Ultimately, many fungi live all around us.  You have nothing to worry about if you have no medical condition suppressing your immuno-system or have specific allergies to the species of fungus. However, if you are going to disturb the environment then all bets are off, and the safest approach is to assume the soil has the fungal spores and take the necessary precautions to protect the workers.

Reference

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 2004. Histoplasmosis. Fact Sheet.