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Published on: May 9, 2018
Occupational challenge studies with laboratory workers allergic to rats
P A Eggleston1, A A Ansari, B Ziemann
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Occupational exposure to rat allergen in vivariums can cause nasal allergic responses in sensitized workers. Higher allergen levels during cage cleaning correlate with more severe nasal symptoms, and some workers also experience lower airway responses.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Laboratory workers exposed to rats can develop allergies.
- Airborne allergens in animal facilities pose a risk to worker health.
- Understanding the relationship between allergen exposure and respiratory symptoms is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate airborne rat allergen levels with airway responses in allergic laboratory workers.
- To evaluate an occupational challenge model for assessing allergic reactions in a work environment.
Main Methods:
- Personal monitors collected airborne allergen concentrations during a 1-hour exposure in a rat vivarium.
- Allergic volunteers and control subjects underwent allergen exposure.
- Nasal lavage and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were measured to assess airway response.
Main Results:
- Allergen concentrations were significantly higher during cage cleaning (19-310 ng/m3) than during quiet activity (<1.5-9.7 ng/m3).
- All 12 allergic volunteers showed nasal responses, with increased histamine or TAME-esterase activity.
- Five volunteers experienced lower respiratory tract responses (FEV1 fall >10%), while controls showed minimal reactions.
Conclusions:
- A dose-response relationship exists between airborne allergen levels and nasal allergic responses.
- The occupational challenge procedure effectively measures nasal and lower respiratory tract responses to allergen exposure.
- This model can be utilized to further investigate factors influencing allergic responses in occupational settings.
