Assessment of soy aeroallergen levels in different work environments

Abstract

The optimal EIA procedure for soy aeroallergen exposure assessment depends on the type of work environment and the local soy dust composition. Thus, the type of work environment should always be taken into account in future soy allergy studies in order to prevent a possible underestimation of the workers' actual risk of developing soy allergy.

Report on an investigation of asthma and respiratory symptoms among workers at a soy processing plant.

“…We found that these soy antigens are highmolecular-weight antigens, as contrasted to the lower-molecularweight soy antigens reported in the asthma outbreaks that occurred in Barcelona, where whole soybeans including soybean hulls were handled [Gomez-Olles et al 2007]. The low-molecular-weight soy antigen concentrations in community air samples from Barcelona on days when soybeans were unloaded (temporally consistent with the concurrent community asthma outbreak) ranged from 10 to 10,590 ng/m 3 , with a GM of 324 ng/m 3 Antó et al 1993].…”

“…[NIOSH 1994, ACGIH 2001. Soy protein analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using rabbit anti-soy protein (Sigma-Aldrich) [Gomez-Olles et al 2007]. …”

Levels of soya aeroallergens during dockside unloading as measured by personal and static sampling / Razine aeroalergena soje za vrijeme iskrcavanja na lučkom doku

“…There is currently limited published air monitoring data for the immunoassay measurements of the two specific allergens. Using the same HSP assay, data collected as part of the MOCALEX study (20) showed air values ranging from 582 to 19,171 ng m -3 on different days in monitoring between a hull processing and flour machines in one plant located in Barcelona docks that unloaded and processed soya (flour and oil). In another soy plant that only unloaded soya beans from ships, sampling near the scales in the grain weighing room gave HSP results that ranged between 765-4,441 ng m -3 (personal communication Dr Susana Olles-Gomez).…”

“…A number of immunoassays for monitoring soya aeroallergens had been investigated as part of the MOCALEX project (20) funded by the European Union (EU). The results suggested that the optimal immunoassay for soya aeroallergen exposure assessment may depend on the type of work and the local soy dust composition.…”

Immunoquantitative Measurement of Soybean Aeroallergen Emissions

“…The first reports of soy allergy were occupation-related and occurred in soybean mill workers (11). To evaluate differences in quality and quantity of soy aeroallergens among different worksites and assess the suitability of different immunoassays to measure workplace soy aeroallergens levels, a large series of airborne samples were collected in three European countries in soy plants, animal feed industries and in pig farms (36). Samples were either analysed for airborne soy allergen by five ELISAs with different specificity and/or sensitivity.…”