Animal dander

Airborne material affecting the quality of indoor air may be classified as gases or particulate matter. Gases which may be potential problems are radon, CO, NOj, and hydrocarbons. Particulate matter may come from tobacco smoke, mold spores, animal dander, plant spores, and others as shown in Table 23-1. Other factors interact to influence our perception of indoor air quality, including humidity, temperature, lighting, and sound level. 

Animal Dander Tiny scales of animal skin. 

Allergens Pollutants that may cause an allergy, including pollens, dusts, animal dander, insect debris, mold and fungi spores. 

Extrinsic (also referred to as allergic asthma and caused in response to an allergen such as pollen, dust, and animal dander)... 

J Seasonal (hay fever) occurs in response to specific allergens (pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds) present at predictable times of the year (spring and/or fall blooming seasons) and typically causes more acute symptoms. Perennial (intermittent or persistent) occurs year round in response to nonseasonal allergens (e.g., dust mites, animal dander, molds) and usually causes more subtle, chronic symptoms. 

Industrial processes, such as mUling and mining, construction work, and the burning of wood or fossil fuel, generate particulates that can be directly toxic or can serve as vectors for the transfer of bound material, such as sulfuric acid, metals, and hydrocarbons, into the lungs. Natural products such as pollen, anthrax spores, and animal dander can elicit toxic reactions on inhalation or skin contact. The inhalation of asbestos, silica, or coal dust can cause pneumoconiosis, which may develop into serious lung disease. The size of the particle, ventilatory rate, and depth of breathing will determine the extent of pulmonary deposition. 

Cromolyn and nedocromil may also be useful in patients whose symptoms occur seasonally or after clear-cut inciting stimuli such as exercise or exposure to animal danders or irritants. In patients whose symptoms are continuous or that occur without an obvious inciting stimulus, the value of these drugs can be established only with a therapeutic trial of inhaled drug four times a day for 4 weeks. If the patient responds to this therapy, the dose can then be optimized. 

Allergens Pollen, house dust Animal dander Asthma, rhinitis... 

Animal dander Dust mite Molds Cockroach Microbial pesticides... 

Perennial (intermittent or persistent) occurs year round in response to nonseasonal allergens (e.g., dust mites, animal dander, molds) and usually causes more subtle, chronic symptoms. 

The difficulty with analyses by occupation and industry is that they do not identify specific agents as risk factors. For example, farmers may be exposed to pesticides, but they also have potential for exposures to other agents, including fuels, solvents, welding fumes, wood dust, silica, crop dust, animal danders, zoonoses and endotoxins. In addition, although some farmers use pesticides, many others do not (Blair and Zahm, 1993). An elevated risk in a job can only be suggestive of particular exposure risks. 

Biological agents in indoor environments include fungi, bacteria, allergens from dust mites, cockroaches and animal dander, and toxic components such as endotoxins and mycotoxins. Biological agents and... 

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