Allergies
Of the complaints listed above, allergies (i.e., exaggerated reactions by the body's immune system) to proteins in small animals' urine, saliva, and dander are the greatest potential health risk. An allergic response may evolve into life-long asthma. Because mice and rats are the animals most frequently used in research studies, there are more reports of allergies to rodents than other laboratory animals.
Most workers who develop allergies to laboratory animals will do so within the first 12 months of working with them. Sometimes reactions only occur in workers after they have been handling animals for several years. Initially, the symptoms are present within minutes of the worker's exposure to the animals. Approximately half of allergic workers will have their initial symptoms subside and then recur three or four hours following the exposure.
Employers should adopt the following best practices to reduce allergic responses of workers:
- Eliminate or minimize exposure to the proteins found in animal urine, saliva and dander.
- Limit the chances that workers will inhale or have skin contact with animal proteins by using well-designed air handling and waste management systems.
- Have workers use appropriate PPE (e.g., gloves, gowns, hair covers, respirators) to further minimize their risk of exposure.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-2. Most workers who develop allergies to laboratory animals will do so _____.
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