Respiratory protection for employees working with laboratory animals

Using simple respiratory protective equipment at first exposure to laboratory animals may help reduce the development of sensitisation later in working life, according to a survey of UK laboratory animal workers.

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Researchers surveyed 776 workers and found that those with less than five years’ exposure to rat urine and who used face masks early in their employment had a lower prevalence of sensitisation, irrespective of their intensity of exposure to animals.

Jones M et al (2013). “Respiratory protective equipment reduces occurrence of sensitisation to laboratory animals”. Occupational Medicine, first published online 7 December.