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Ann G. Miguel,¹ Glen R. Cass,¹ Jay Weiss,² and M. Michael Glovsky³

¹Environmental Engineering Science Department, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena CA 91125-0001 USA; ²Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA 90045-5597 USA; ³Asthma Center, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA 91105 USA

Abstract

The prevalence and severity of latex allergy has increased dramatically in the last 15 years due to exposure to natural rubber products. Although historically this health risk has been elevated in hospital personnel and patients, a recent survey has indicated a significant potential risk for the general population. To obtain a wide-spread source for latex exposure, we have considered tire debris. We have searched for the presence of latex allergens in passenger car and truck tire tread, in debris deposited from the atmosphere near a freeway, and in airborne particulate matter samples representative of the entire year 1993 at two sites in the Los Angeles basin (California) . After extraction of the samples with phosphate buffered saline, a modified-ELISA inhibition assay was used to measure relative allergen potency and Western blot analyses were used to identify latex allergens. The inhibition studies with the human IgE latex assay revealed inhibition by the tire tread source samples and ambient freeway dust, as well as by control latex sap and latex glove extracts. Levels of extractable latex allergen per unit of protein extracted were about two orders of magnitude lower for tire tread as compared to latex gloves. Western blot analyses using binding of human IgE from latex-sensitive patients showed a band at 34-36 kDa in all tire and ambient samples. Long Beach and Los Angeles, California, air samples showed four additional bands between 50 and 135 kDa. Alternative Western blot analyses using rabbit IgG raised against latex proteins showed a broad band at 30-50 kDa in all samples, with additional bands in the urban air samples similar to the IgE results. A latex cross-reactive material was identified in mountain cedar. In conclusion, the latex allergens or latex cross-reactive material present in sedimented and airborne particulate material, derived from tire debris, and generated by heavy urban vehicle traffic could be important factors in producing latex allergy and asthma symptoms associated with air pollution particles. Key words: airborne particles, Hevea brasiliensis, latex allergen, tire debris. Environ Health Perspect 104:1180-1186 (1996)

Address correspondence to G. Cass, California Institute of Technology, MC 138-78, Pasadena, CA 91125-0001 USA.

We thank Michael Hannigan of Caltech for the execution of the 1993 Los Angeles and Long Beach atmospheric monitoring experiment. We are grateful to Melissa Lopez and Ercan Unver of Diagnostic Products Corporation for their assistance and advice during the execution of Western blots, and we are indebted to Gary Casuccio and Steven Schlaegle of the R J Lee Group for the microscopic examination of particulate matter samples. This work was supported by the Caltech Center for Air Quality Analysis.

Received 22 March 1996 ; accepted 2 July 1996.