Extrinsic allergic alveolitis and contaminated cooling-water in a factory machine.

Symptoms and signs typical of extrinsic allergic alveolitis occurred in 24 workers in a stationery factory. The illness was caused by inhalation of a water aerosol contaminated by microorganisms, and although no specific organism has been incriminated, affected workers had serum precipitins to the contaminated water, and the illness could be reproduced by inhalation challenge tests.