Allergen occupational allergens

Cold air, dusts, aerosol sprays, smoke, fumes, occupational allergens to which the worker was previously sensitized... 

Animals exposed to 150 pg of subtilisin protein. m for 15 min per day for 5 consecutive days developed immediate-onset and late-onset pulmonary responses when re-exposed to the protein aerosol (Thome et al., 1986). The immediate-onset pulmonary responses were detected as significant increases in the breathing rate. The late-onset responses were also detected as significant increases in breathing rate accompanied by febrile responses. In addition, the animals possessed allergic antibody specific to subtilisin, although not every animal with antibody developed pulmonary symptoms (Hillebrand et al., 1987). Animals exposed to 8 or 41 pg of subtilisin protein, nr3 did not experience pulmonary symptoms, but did develop low levels of antibody to subtilisin. These experiments showed that immune reactivity to this occupational allergen occurred at exposure levels lower than those required for the elicitation of pulmonary responses. 

Park HS, Nahm DH (1997). New occupational allergen in a pharmaceutical industry serratial peptidase and lysozyme chloride. Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol, 78 225-229. 

Further examples, including non-occupational allergens, are listed in Table 3 (see Uter et al. 1998 also). Guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems in contact dermatitis have been proposed (Schnuch 1998) (see Appendix). 

Employers liability insurance associations or occupational physicians rely on data of the occurrence of certain allergens in the work environment, but are also interested in non-occupational allergen sources. 

The patho-mechanism of these papular and urticarial eruptions is unknown. An immune complex reaction may be the basis of the clinical manifestation here. Goh postulated that the allergen is absorbed percutaneously and evoked an allergic contact dermatitis at the primary site, while concurrently forming immune complexes with a circulating antibody (Goh 1989). The immune complexes were probably deposited in the microvasculature and triggered by an inflammatory process that led to the UPPE. Occupational allergens reported to cause UPPE include woods and/or plants, and chemicals. 

The atopic subject and, in particular, the subject with past or active atopic eczema must be considered hypersusceptible to occupational allergens or irritant factors... 

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to chromates in cement has been reported to persist even upon avoidance of cement. Burrows reported that only 8% of his patients with cement dermatitis had clearance of their dermatitis after a 10- to 13-year follow-up (Burrows 1972). In Sydney, the prognosis from occupational allergic contact dermatitis from chromate was worse than those caused by other occupational allergens only less than 20% of such patients had clearance of their dermatitis over a 2- to 10-year follow-up period (Rosen and Freeman 1993). Another study from Perth, Australia, also reported poor prognosis from cement dermatitis, where 89% of cement workers with chromate allergy had persistent dermatitis when followed up over a period between 6 months and 9 years (Halbert et al. 1992). 

Workers in the electronics, optical, paint and glue industries are most likely to acquire occupational allergy to epoxy resins (Richter 1974 Tosti et al. 1993). A Dutch survey among employees of several companies that specialise in epoxy resin-related work in the construction industry revealed hand eczema in 23 of 135 persons. Of these, 61% of the eczema population and 12% of the healthy skin group had positive patch-test reactions. Almost all positive patch-test reactions were due to epoxy resin This shows the tremendous relevance of epoxy resin as occupational allergen (van Putten et al. 1984). Epoxy resin coated fiberglass fibres have been reported as a cause of dermatitis in this particular field of industry (Holness and Nethercott 1989). 

Dictionary of Occupational Allergens Chemical Structures, Sources and References... 

This chapter has been written in order to familiarize the reader with the chemical structures of current and rare occupational allergens. For each molecule, the chemical structure and the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number are mentioned. One or several important literature references have been listed. However, it was not possible to be exhaustive, and some allergens have been omitted, since they were either obsolete, extremely rarely implicated in occupational contact dermatitis or because case reports were too imprecise. For some practical and chemical reasons, acrylates, beta-blocking agents, cephalosporins, methacrylates, organophosphorous compounds, penicillin derivatives, and pyridine and its derivatives have been listed in separated sections. 

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