Carry out of animal allergens from animal facility on skin of laboratory animal workers

H. Campbell, J. Canizales, S. Semple, J. Feary, P. Cullinan, M. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalAbstractpeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction There are at least 12,000 laboratory animal workers in the UK who are at risk of developing an IgE-associated respiratory allergy to airborne animal proteins. There has been a drive to reduce animal allergen levels in animal facilities, however recent studies have suggested that laboratory workers may also transfer animal allergens outside of the animal facility to their offices, laboratories and indeed their homes. Among Scottish technicians Mus m 1 was detected on hands, shoes, car steering wheels and domestic door handles after leaving work (S. Semple – personal communication). Krop et al. detected significantly higher levels of mouse allergen in mattresses from the homes of laboratory animal workers than those from non-exposed controls suggesting carry out of allergen from work to home. These observations may have significant clinical relevance; in Poland, children of laboratory animal workers had a higher prevalence of sensitisation to mouse than did the children of parents in other occupations.

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether mouse allergen is transferred out of the animal facility on the skin of workers.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)A105-A106
Number of pages2
JournalThorax
Volume70
Issue numberSuppl. 3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2015
EventWinter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society 2015 - London
Duration: 2 Dec 20154 Dec 2015

Keywords

  • animal allergens
  • laboratory animal workers

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