Original paper
The Incidence of Aero-Allergens in South Wales
Harvey, R.; Mullins, J.
Nova Hedwigia Band 26 Heft 2-3 (1975), p. 445 - 460
31 references
published: Aug 25, 1975
DOI: 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/26/1975/445
ArtNo. ESP050002602020, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
An increasing proportion of all allergenic illness in highly industrialised countries is due to inhalation of allergenic particles, many of which are released into the air as industrial waste. Pollen and fungal spores, when present in sufficiently high concentrations, can induce an allergic response in sensitised individuals (Austwick, 1966). Simple restricted activities, such as lawn-mowing, may cause localized increases in spore concentrations with corresponding onset of allergic symptoms (Sreeramulu, 1958). In extreme cases there may be chronic respiratory distress as in ‘farmer’s lung’, caused by the spores of aerobic actinomycetes growing on mouldy hay. These may be released in very high concentrations during the handling of hay. This paper is confined to a consideration of the incidence in South Wales of pollen and fungal spores, representative species of which have been shown by provocation tests to produce symptoms of asthma or hay fever in sensitised individuals.
Keywords
allergenic illness • particles • fungal spores • industrial waste • asthma • industrialised countries • South Wales