Animal allergens

How should we define a level of exposure to animal allergens which is sufficient to justify health surveillance?

Occupational Asthma, Specialist, 7/26/2007, 8/6/2007,

This reply is based on UK law, which in this aspect is generally sensible. The Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulation 11 is the basis for surveillance recommendations. High level surveillance is to be applied when "there is strong evidence of a hazard" animal handlers are one of the commoner groups developing occupational asthma and rhinitis, so would generally be within the srong evidence of a hazard. The types of animals may be of some importance, most data concerns laboratory animals, particularly rate, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. There is a lot of evidence for horses and cows, but I believe not much for sheep for instance. and "it is not possible to conclude that there is insignificant or no risk in the circumstances of the work" this regulation as I understand it does not relate to particular air levels of antigen, where standardised methodogy is in in infancy, but requires the results of high level surveillance audited over some time. If no cases of sensitisation are identified over a period of time I believe a case could be made for stopping high level surveillance. I dont know anywhere where this has occurred; the follow-up of surveillance failures would need to be complete and audited. If anybody has evidence of this being approved please add comments and details.

8/6/2007