[Various forms of humidifier lung].

Clinical and immunological investigations of 15 workers in a repro-printing house revealed a prevalence of 7% for the occurrence of humidifier-lung. Serological sensitization to humidifier water and fungi respectively was found in 73%, fragmentary symptoms in 53%. In comparison to smokers, elevated antibody levels occurred more frequently in nonsmokers (33% vs. 100%). The results are supposed to reflect subclinical stages of disease, but they are not yet of a definite predictive value. Reduction of microorganisms in humidifiers seems to be essential for the prevention of disease.