Industrial Allergies

Industrial allergies are those that occur on the job in either an office, business, warehouse or manufacturing venue. Most industrial allergies are caused by certain irritants, such as paint sprays, aerosol cleaners and other astringents that contain a number of chemicals. However, people may also have problems with dust, pollen and mold inside the buildings in which they work, especially if they have a compromised immune system or are prone to seasonal allergies. Fortunately, there are certain treatments for industrial allergies

Identification

• There are more complex chemical compounds or polymers that exist today versus the past, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Consequently, more people are developing chemical sensitivities to substances they encounter at work. While these chemicals may not affect some people, others can develop breathing problems or burning eyes from the offending substances. Over time, symptoms can gradually worsen for the industrial allergy sufferer.

Types of Chemicals

• People can react to common petrochemicals such as formaldehyde, phenol and glycerine, as well as gases, dyes and pigments that are used in manufacturing products. Other caustic substances that are used in making plastic materials include polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyehtylene. All of these caustic substances can potentially cause industrial allergies, as can perfumes, scented hand creams and smoke in offices or businesses. People can also have reactions to moldy air vents and dust mites at work.

Symptoms

• Industrial allergies may start out with annoying symptoms like an unpleasant smell, then gradually progress to more severe symptoms, such as burning nasal passages, dizziness, headaches, burning tongue, coughing, bronchiospasms, flu-like symptoms, blood vessel constriction and even gastrointestinal disorders.

Prevention/Solution

• Some people with mild industrial allergy symptoms may get relief from antihistamines or certain over-the-counter nasal sprays. A person's reactions may also become less severe with traditional allergy shots or immunotherapy, used primarily for pollen, mold and dust mite allergies. Both of these treatments could help mitigate the symptoms. There are allergy drops for chemical sensitivities that can better help a person cope with their environment. Still, the best solution may be to remove oneself from the work environment.

Considerations

• Some company human resource departments are familiar with industrial allergies. A person with this condition may be able to relocate to another area. The industrial allergy sufferer can also use certain air purifiers near their work station to help ward off harmful chemicals.