ODTS Poisioned from woodchips

[Tree:Tment]

Was at A&E last night after my bones started do ache and muscles cramping up badly. intense pain, chills and trouble breathing. The same symptoms my groundsman had also whi also went to A&E.

 

My tipper broke around 6 weeks ago and since then I have been forking out woodchips. Yesterdays pile of woodchips had been went gray and very dusty...and within 4 hrs myself and groundsman were in pain.

 

the last 6 weeks i have lost 1 stone in weight, lost mobility in my joints and much strength. I had went to my Gp last week as i thought that i might have rheumatoid arthritis as i have had many nights where i have been in bad pain that i could not sleep. I went for blood tests, Xrays etc. I was even thinking about packing in tree work as i thought it was causing me so much health issues... it just never clicked that it had anything to do with woodchips until yesterday when my groundsman has same symptoms at same time.

 

 

ODTS causes weight loss, bone and muscles pain, chills, headaches, loss of mobility..and can lead to long term long issues and possible lung failure. Symptoms last up to 5 days after exposure.

 

 

Organic dust toxic syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Lesson well learnt! hope this post serves well reminds other to stay safe..its usually the small things that catch you out

[Lyn Ed]

thanks for the heads up on that, hope your feeling better, was it old woodchip that you had it from.

[Tree:Tment]

I might get run over by a bus tomorrow, god forbid.....

 

Cool.

[Tree:Tment]

Scaremonger.

 

Mick. I come on here to report an incident so i can warn others.

 

I have not came on here to have key board kung fu with yourself.

 

ODTS can lead to severe lung and heart problems and i made a silly mistake of not wearing proper PPE. I hope to warn other not to make the same mistake.

 

Cool?

[Shane]

Eek, I shovelled chips (avg 3 mtrs a day) for 9 years till I got a tipper.

Only ever felt crap after laurel shovelling.

 

Worth being aware though - never heard of it before.

[Mick Stockbridge]

Mick. I come on here to report an incident so i can warn others.

 

I have not came on here to have key board kung fu with yourself.

 

ODTS can lead to severe lung and heart problems and i made a silly mistake of not wearing proper PPE. I hope to warn other not to make the same mistake.

 

Cool?

 

Yeah fair enough. I'm sorry for jumping the gun.

[Tree:Tment]

thanks for the heads up on that, hope your feeling better, was it old woodchip that you had it from.

 

Thanks,

 

Yeah it was old woodchip yesterday..but on previous times it was only 1 day old.

[Gareth Dalzell]

Something to be aware of and an interesting condition I wasn't aware of. Hope you get over it. Thanks for sharing.

[Spruce Pirate]

Only ever felt crap after laurel shovelling.

 

I was told laurel releases cyanide, hence the reason for feeling crap after working with it.

 

Never heard of ODTS before, so good to know something about it.

[Andy Collins]

I believe ODTS used to be called Farmers Lung, a nasty condition. I think it's caused by the grey mould spores, also found in compost heaps. You're right to be concerned and warning others.