[Health hazards associated with occupational exposure to birds].
The occupational group particularly exposed to contact with birds are zoo keepers, animal shop workers, individual bird's keepers and food industry workers. Work associated with contact with birds may contribute to the development of different symptoms and diseases, including allergic and contagious ones. This paper reviews the most common allergens occurring in the environment of bird's keepers, namely: feathers, egg proteins, allergens of plant origin, acarinae, allergens from latex and disinfectants. The most common health effects associated with occupational exposure to birds are also presented. Taking account of not fully understood pathogenesis of allergy to these allergens, complexity of occupational exposure and a possible coincidence of non-specific irritant effects of factors present in work environment, the diagnostic and certification procedures for occupational allergic diseases require highly specialized investigations. Objective and subjective medical examinations, taken medical history and physical examination also play a significant role in diagnostics of contagious diseases, whereas different laboratory tests are used in searching for their etiologic factors. The prevention of diseases associated with occupational exposure to birds comprises educational work, technical actions (hygiene prophylaxis) and medical prophylaxis.
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Toksykologii oraz Ośrodek Alergii Zawodowej i Srodowiskowej, Łódź,
Sylwia
S
Swiderska-Kiełbik
Anna
A
Krakowiak
Marta
M
Wiszniewska
Wojciech
W
Dudek
Jolanta
J
Walusiak-Skorupa
Patrycja
P
Krawczyk-Szulc
Aleksandra
A
Michowicz
Cezary
C
Pałczyński
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D001717:Birds; D005241:Feathers; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational