Thread:KJ8/@comment-29709645-20160910105552/@comment-29694704-20160910161135

From: Pennsylvania State University http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-safety/health/e26

One of the main culprits in respiratory illnesses for farmers is mold spores. Mold spores are produced by microorganisms which grow on living plants and on baled hay, stored grain, or silage with high moisture content (30 percent). These microorganisms become active when temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit in poorly ventilated areas. Farmers typically contract these diseases in the winter and early spring because the mold has had time to develop in closed storage areas and the crop is being removed from storage.

Heavy concentrations of mold spores appear as a dry, white or grey powder in grain or forage. When the feed is moved, billions of these microscopic sized particles become airborne and attach themselves to dust. The particles pass through the body’s natural filtering mechanisms (e.g., nose, hair, and throat mucous) and accumulate in the lungs where they can cause an allergenic type of pneumonia. Repeated attacks can lead to scarring of lung tissue which impairs its function and can cause permanent damage