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Occupational Asthma pp 185–204Cite as

Allergen and irritant exposure and exposure-response relationships

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Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

Abstract

Exposure to allergens and irritants is a complex phenomenon. Especially the particulate nature of many natural allergens in combination with the low exposure creates remarkable phenomena. Many allergens appear to be potent sensitizers in the nanograms per cubic meter of air range. Evidence exists that workers can be sensitized even after exposure to a low number of particles. With exposure in the low nanogram range, the respiratory tract is exposed to distinct exposure quanta of a few particles, which lead to high local concentrations of allergenic molecules. With gaseous exposure, a more equal exposure over the large surface area of the respiratory organ is to be expected. These phenomena may have mechanistic and biological implications, but certainly determine exposure assessment approaches, the interpretation of exposure measurements and the evaluation of exposure-response relationships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80178, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Dick Heederik & Gert Doekes

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  1. Dick Heederik
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  2. Gert Doekes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University, Bartholin Allé 2, 8000, Århus C, Denmark

    Torben Sigsgaard

  2. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3508 TD, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Dick Heederik

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Heederik, D., Doekes, G. (2010). Allergen and irritant exposure and exposure-response relationships. In: Sigsgaard, T., Heederik, D. (eds) Occupational Asthma. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8556-9_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8556-9_11

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