Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

particles. Dust and 
other mites as well as 
their particles;
 
Œ metabolism products 
of living organisms 
(sweat, fecal matter 
particles); 
 
Œ fungi, bacteria and 
viruses;
 
Œ pollen.
Living organisms that 
determine biological 
contamination can cause: 
 
Œ allergic reactions;
 
Œ infectious diseases;
 
Œ poisoning with toxins.
Figure 7.33. 
Dust mite

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156 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
A typical infectious disease caused by indoor air pollution by 
microorganisms is legionellosis. ‘Legionnaires’ disease’ is caused 
by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, which is one of more 
than 20 similar bacteria that cause the disease referred to as 
legionellosis. Legionellosis outbreaks have been observed in the 
U.S. as well as in other countries, and, given the high lethality of 
the disease, it has been studied quite extensively. Legionellosis is a 
lung disease caused by environ mental pollution (it does not spread 
from human to human) with Legionella bacteria. These bacteria can 
multiply in water, in closed water circulation systems, ponds, air-
conditioning systems and in water spray (showers, stoves, garden 
watering equipment, etc.), and be inhaled in a form of aerosols. 
The bacteria as aerosols can be transmitted even to relatively large 
distances. 
To protect oneself against legionellosis it is important to properly 
set up and operate the water circulation systems. In practice, 
this means the need to prevent the opportunities for bacterial 
multi pli cation.
Also,  the  allergic  alveolitis  can  be  caused  by  airborne  micro-
organisms. The acute form of alveolitis becomes manifest 6-8 hours 
after exposure as ‘acute respiratory infection’, fever, shortness of 
breath, cough and muscle aches. If the contact with the cause of 
illness is interrupted, it may last a few days. The chronic form of the 
disease is more common when there is a constant low-level source 
of pollution, such as pets. This condition is caused by Micropolyspora 
faeoni, Cytophaga allerginae, Aspergillus fumigatus and other fungi, 
which, for instance, also cause the allergy to the hay, particularly, 
if the hay is mouldy. The same microorganisms may develop in air 
conditioning and ventilation equipment.
Fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms present in the 
indoor air can also cause diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis 
(caused by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and, for example, the 
‘sick building syndrome’. The sick building syndrome is expressed 
as a host of different symptoms when living or working in certain 
rooms and stops on leaving the premises. Typical of this syndrome is 
the inflammation and watering of the eyes, runny nose, headache, 
irritability,  difficult  breathing,  and  sometimes  asthma.  Air 
conditioning and humidification systems can also cause infectious 
diseases. The sick building syndrome can be detected both in 
newly-built, technically well-equipped buildings as well as old, 
worn-out houses. The sick building syndrome may be caused by the 
substances resulting from fuel combustion, substances and materials 
used in building construction or in the work process, biological air