Silk, which is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm, is a recognized cause of occupational asthma in silk-industry workers (1). Allergic rhinitis and asthma caused by silk have also been reported in children in China, in the absence of occupational exposure (2). However, allergy to silk in clothing is rare, as silk threads to be used for fabrics are subjected to several processes that remov...

Edyta Reszka1, Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta2, Maciej Kupczyk3, Wojciech Dudek2, Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura2*, Tomasz Wittczak2, Jan Rykała4, Monika Przybek1, Ewa Jabłońska1, Beata Kręcisz2, Piotr Kuna3, Wojciech Wąsowicz1 and Cezary Pałczyński2,3 1Department of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Nofer Institute of Occupational Diseases, Łódź, Poland 2Department of Allergology and Environmental Health, ...

BACKGROUND Occupational exposure of healthcare workers to natural rubber latex has led to sensitization and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. Although environmental exposure to natural rubber latex products is necessary for sensitization, it is not sufficient. A number of genetic factors also seem to contribute to the latex sensitization; however, the multigenic nature of the allergic p...

Over many years, allergy to natural rubber latex has been a major problem among health care workers (HCW). The diagnosis of occupational allergy requires methods of high diagnostic accuracy in view of certification implications (e.g., a sick worker quits a job). With the development of molecular methods, the frequency of application of recombinant allergens it the diagnostics of allergic diseas...

Occupational and non-occupational contact allergy to, and allergic contact dermatitis caused by, acrylates/methacrylates are frequently reported (1–18). However, there is no acrylate/methacrylate test preparation in the European baseline patch test series (19). Therefore, contact allergy to, and allergic contact dermatitis caused by, acrylates/methacrylates may be overlooked when the decision i...

Occupational immune diseases are new emerging illnesses that affect workers in industrialized societies. Occupational exposures to substances in the workplace environment can cause inflammation, allergy, or other potentially detrimental immune responses. Personal exposure to a variety of chemicals can exacerbate immune diseases such as contact dermatitis as well as respiratory diseases includin...

Baker's asthma, like other forms of occupational asthma is probably the most serious manifestation of occupational allergy among bakery workers. It is caused by immunologic sensitization and subsequent allergic reactions in the airways to occupational specific airborne allergens. Skin Prick Tests (SPTs) play an important role in the diagnosis of baker's asthma and epidemiological field studies ...

Background: Chironomids seem to be the main cause of occupational allergy to aquarium fi sh food. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of occupational sensitization to 3 different arthropod species used as components of aquarium fi sh food. Methods: The study sample comprised 8 workers from a fi sh food packing department. The control group comprised 40 atopic patient...