Hazardous waste in mine shafts A single pigeon can excrete up to 25 pounds of feces a year, adding dangerous weight to structures and causing slippery conditions in cool damp places.
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hen we think of hazardous waste in a mining environment, things that come to mind might be asbestos, a variety of different chemicals, or even mercury; but one never conjures up the images of pigeon feces.
As far as we know, pigeons and pigeon contaminants do not pose COVID or H1N1 risks, but there are a variety of other occupational health and safety risks that are presented when working around bird contaminants in enclosed spaces.
History The species that we refer to as the pigeon, which can be found in cities and rural areas in Canada, is the feral rock pigeon. This bird was a cliff-dwelling bird that was commonly found feeding and breeding along rocky coastlines prior to its mass exodus inland to make its home alongside man. Its origins are also what makes this bird feel so much at home in the shafts of mines across the country. Pigeons breed and roost in groups and if conditions are adequate, a pair of pigeons and their offspring can bring up to 40 birds in a 12-month period, and five mating pairs can produce up to 200 pigeons in two years. More alarmingly, a single bird can excrete up to 25 pounds of feces a year, adding dangerous weight to structures and causing slippery conditions in cool damp areas.
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Mine shafts make for a perfect roosting environment for pigeons. The birds are safe from the elements outdoors and from predators looking for their next meal. The natural structures of mine shafts can also accumulate hundreds of pounds of pigeon droppings over the course of a few years, making an environment and occupational health and safety nightmare.
Dangers Pigeon droppings may pose a moderate health risk to the general public, but the risk of contracting a respiratory illness drastically increases when working around pigeon droppings in enclosed areas. Pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases including Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, Psittacosis, and Gastrointestinal illness. The most common of which are Histoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis.
Histoplasmosis Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) and is found in soil with high organic content and undisturbed pigeon and bat droppings. The disease is transmitted to humans when spores – carried by the air – are inhaled, especially after a roost has been disturbed. Most infections are mild and produce either no symptoms or a minor influenza-like illness. On occasion, the disease can cause high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia, and even death.
