title: Nasal air sampling for measuring inhaled wheat allergen in bakeries with and without facemask use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational asthma caused by flour is common in bakers. We applied novel intranasal air samplers (INAS) to assess wheat allergen exposure and evaluate respiratory protection in bakeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two models of INAS (INAS-M1 and INAS-M2) were compared with simultaneous personal air sampling of inhalable dust, both with and without facemasks. Wheat allergen levels were measured using a sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Allergenic particles were immunostained for microscopic visualization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Personal air sampling correlated well with INAS-M1 (r = 0.89) and INAS-M2 (r = 0.75). INAS-M2 collected particles more effectively than INAS-M1. Facemasks reduced inhalation of wheat allergen by 96% and 93% measured using INAS-M1 and INAS-M2, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal air sampling can complement personal air sampling to measure short-term exposure and evaluate respiratory protection. To prevent baker's asthma, facemasks may be an effective solution in addition to improving workplaces.
authors.affiliation: Lung and Allergy Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm, Sweden. anne.renstrom@ki.se
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renström
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blidberg
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doekes
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogdanovic
authors.forename: Euan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tovey
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003296:Cooking; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D014908:Triticum
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000485:Allergens