[Allergy due to castor bean meal (author's transl)]

A comprehensive review of the literature on allergy due to castor bean is given as it occurs by inhalation of dust particles in the environment of milk working with castor bean. Furthermore it may occur by handling of castor bean and of its expressed residuals after oil production. A case report is presented about a respiratory allergy caused by castor bean meal containing fertilizer used in culturing grass plats. Symptomes of increased dyspnoe following repeated exposures and a strongly positive skin test to an extract of castor bean have been observed. There is strong evidence that the castor bean has a high allergenic potency, requiring attention in allergy tests.