The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Warning that bagpipes can kill after lung disease death
Victim died of lung condition after breathing in mould which grew inside his bagpipes, say scientists
Playing the bagpipes could be hazardous to your health, a new study has warned.
Pipers’ lives could be at risk if they breathe in mould spores growing inside the instrument.
Scientists say a variety of fungi and mould could cause what’s known as “bagpipe lung”.
Blowing in warm moist air creates the ideal breeding ground for the mould and the spores which are then inhaled back to the player during performance, according to the study.
The warning came after a bagpipe player died of the chronic inflammatory lung condition hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
A 61-year-old man, who has not been named, was referred to a specialist lung clinic in 2014 after seven years of a dry cough and progressive breathlessness.
He had been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in 2009, although the cause had not been identified as he was not a pigeon fancier, lived in a damp house or smoked.
He played the bagpipes daily but did not take them with him on a threemonth trip to Australia and his symptoms rapidly improved.
Dr Jenny King, of University Hospital of South Manchester, said: “This is the first case report identifying fungal exposure, from a bagpipe player, as a potential trigger for the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
“Clinicians need to be aware of this potential trigger for developing hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and wind instrument players need to be aware of the importance of regularly cleaning the instruments to minimise the risk.”
Richard Smith, pipe major with the Mains of Fintry band, said: “People are conscious of this, but it isn’t a major concern any more.
“Most of the bags have zips so you can open them to air them out.” As a piper’s dad, I do have concerns about health dangers lurking within the instrument.
My son James has been piping for several years now and plays in the Arbroath Pipe Band and is also a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. It would be fair to say piping is his obsession.
That said, maintenance is a key part of being a bagpiper and he looks after his pipes. They do have a moisture system which, to get technical for a moment, prevents too many slavers entering the bag.
However, James has a natural skin bag which would be more likely to harbour mould and fungi than a modern synthetic equivalent.
He did end up in hospital through his piping only last weekend when at the World Championships in Glasgow. He was blowing in a new reed, which requires more effort, and ended up giving himself a hernia! But he’s back playing.
Dangerous business...