Biomaterial Database

Are we closer to developing threshold limit values for allergens in the workplace? 2001

D Heederik

Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. d.heederik@iras.uu.nl

The use of immunoassays has facilitated the measurement of high molecular weight sensitizers, usually protein molecules, in the picogram and nanogram per cubic meter range. This facilitated the evaluation of exposure response relationships for bakery workers, exposed to wheat allergens and fungal alpha-amylase and other groups exposed to other allergens such as laboratory animal workers. The application for the standard setting is still limited and requires rigorous standardization, but can be expected in the near future.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007118	Immunoassay	A technique using antibodies for identifying or quantifying a substance. Usually the substance being studied serves as antigen both in antibody production and in measurement of antibody by the test substance.	Immunochromatographic Assay,Assay, Immunochromatographic,Assays, Immunochromatographic,Immunoassays,Immunochromatographic Assays
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000485	Allergens	Antigen-type substances that produce immediate hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE).	Allergen
D016273	Occupational Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation.	Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D020711	Threshold Limit Values	Standards for limiting worker exposure to airborne contaminants. They are the maximum concentration in air at which it is believed that a particular substance will not produce adverse health effects with repeated daily exposure. It can be a time-weighted average (TLV-TWA), a short-term value (TLV-STEL), or an instantaneous value (TLV-Ceiling). They are expressed either as parts per million (ppm) or milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3).	Short-Term Exposure Limit,STEL,TLV-BLV,TLV-Biological Limit Value,TLV-Ceiling,TLV-STEL,TLV-TWA,TLV-Time Weighted Average,STELs,TLV BLV,TLV Ceiling,TLV STEL,TLV TWA,TLV-BLVs,TLV-Ceilings,TLV-STELs,TLV-TWAs