Animal Allergens

SBS symptoms and illnesses can often be attributed to specific sources. Often, however, despite careful chemical and biological testing, the sources are not revealed. Industrial hygiene workups many times reveal chemical contaminant concentrations that are an order of magnitude or more below 

NOEL levels. People living or working in buildings with low levels of contamination may be affected during the time they spend in these buildings and find relief when they are away from them. Remediation protocols are difficult to proscribe when the sources of the problems are unknown. 

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Reduce indoor humidity to less than 50% if possible Animal allergens (if removal of pet is not acceptable)... 

Other Ingested Animal Allergens From Frogs to Insects.356... 

OTHER INGESTED ANIMAL ALLERGENS FROM FROGS TO INSECTS... 

Though this book is devoted to chemically induced toxicity, the subject of sick building syndrome cannot be discussed without addressing the biological causes of SBS. The presence of molds, dust mites, and animal allergens in residential and commercial buildings are known to produce adverse health effects in humans. 

Responses to animal allergens may not be restricted to the animals discussed above. A study in the United Arab Emirates detected responses to rat and mouse hair [226(111)]. Another study in Buenos Aires, Argentina, identified positive specific skin tests and IgE antibodies for bat faeces among patients living in tall buildings and old houses [227(IIb)]. 

It also remains to be seen whether modification of aeroallergen exposure postnatally will have any impact on airway disease. One study combined dietary manipulation with HDM avoidance and showed a reduced prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy in the first 2 years of life but no effect on wheezing illnesses at 4 years of age [121]. Another study has shown that environmental manipulation to reduce pre- and postnatal exposure to HDM and animal allergens has reduced the frequency of respiratory symptoms in the first year of life in infants born to atopic families [122]. Longer-term follow-up and larger studies are required, and some are in progress. 

Eggleston P.A., Newill C.A., Ansari A.A., Pustelnik A., Lou S.R., Evans III R.I., Marsh D.G., Longbottom J.L. and Corn M. (1989) Task related variation in airborne concentrations of laboratory animal allergens Studies with Rat n 1. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 84. 347-352. 

Longbottom JL (1984) Occupational allergy due to animal allergens. Clin Immunol Allergy 4 19-36... 

Savolainen J, Uitti J, Halmepuro L, Nordman H (1997) IgE response to fur animal allergens and domestic animal allergens in fiir farmers and fur garment workers. Clin Exp Allergy 27 501-509... 

Wahn, U. and R.P. Siraganian. 1980. Efficacy and specificity of immunotherapy with laboratory animal allergen extracts. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol 65 413-421. 

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