Preventing occupational allergies: solutions do exist

Occupational allergies are among the most frequent of occupational diseases, because numerous sensitizing substances and organisms are present in the working world. Often underestimated, such pathologies can become very disabling and can lead people to change jobs or careers. This file proposes a round-up of the state of knowledge about the frequency of these pathologies in the working world, and about the physio-pathological mechanisms involved. It also presents various focuses for risk prevention: tests making it possible to predict the skin sensitizing potential of chemicals; methods of measuring allergens in workplace air; and an example of a method of evaluating the flour dust emissivity of machines.