title: Setting Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Allergens--Understanding the Challenges.
abstract: Chemical allergens represent a significant health burden in the workplace. Exposures to such chemicals can cause the onset of a diverse group of adverse health effects triggered by immune-mediated responses. Common responses associated with workplace exposures to low molecular weight (LMW) chemical allergens range from allergic contact dermatitis to life-threatening cases of asthma. Establishing occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemical allergens presents numerous difficulties for occupational hygiene professionals. Few OELs have been developed for LMW allergens because of the unique biological mechanisms that govern the immune-mediated responses. The purpose of this article is to explore the primary challenges confronting the establishment of OELs for LMW allergens. Specific topics include: (1) understanding the biology of LMW chemical allergies as it applies to setting OELs; (2) selecting the appropriate immune-mediated response (i.e., sensitization versus elicitation); (3) characterizing the dose (concentration)-response relationship of immune-mediated responses; (4) determining the impact of temporal exposure patterns (i.e., cumulative versus acute exposures); and (5) understanding the role of individual susceptibility and exposure route. Additional information is presented on the importance of using alternative exposure recommendations and risk management practices, including medical surveillance, to aid in protecting workers from exposures to LMW allergens when OELs cannot be established.
authors.affiliation: a Education and Information Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.affiliation: a Education and Information Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio.|b College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati , Ohio.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: c Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , West Virginia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: c Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , West Virginia.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: c Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , West Virginia.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: d Respiratory Health Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , West Virginia.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Stefaniak
authors.affiliation: e Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago , Illinois.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Codispoti
authors.affiliation: f Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kimber
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020711:Threshold Limit Values
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: allergens; asthma; chemicals; exposure; occupational; sensitization