Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Chapter 13Environmental and occupational allergies
Section snippets
Background
The primary indoor allergens that contribute to allergic disease include arthropod allergens, mammalian allergens (from either pets or pests), and fungal allergens.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Additionally, indoor pollutants can also influence host response to allergens and should be considered when developing environmental interventions.6 Seasonal outdoor allergens can also play a role in the indoor environment when they penetrate into the indoor setting.6
Pathogenesis: Allergens
There is overwhelming evidence that indoor domestic
Background
Airborne pollens and molds are important causes of allergic rhinitis and asthma and therefore have been a major focus of research since the 19th century. In as much as the details of each local climate determine which plants and molds will grow there, recently, there has been considerable interest in the effect of climate change on outdoor allergens.64 The dates and amount of exposure to specific allergens at specific locations can be measured by using several methods. The most common is
Air pollution and asthma
Increased exposure to respirable particulate matter (<10 μm in size) is associated with exacerbation of asthma across the world.74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 Studies performed in Utah clearly demonstrated the relationship between airborne particulates and occurrence of respiratory disease associated with the activity of a steel mill that was inactive for a year because of a labor dispute.84, 85 Occurrence of asthma and the level of particulates were less during the strike year compared
Background
The 2 main occupational allergies are contact dermatitis (see chapter 12 of this Primer)135 and asthma. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is uncommon. Farmers' lung has virtually disappeared because silos are no longer used to store food on dairy farms. Occupational asthma is the most common occupational respiratory disorder in industrialized countries, estimated to account for 5% to 15% of asthma cases in adults of working age, especially those with newly developed asthma. More than 250 agents have
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Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: D. Peden is a consultant for ICAGEN, GlaxoSmithKline, Genentech, and Funxional Therapeutics Ltd and has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. C. E. Reed has declared that he has no conflict of interest.