A WHO/NIOSH occupational-respiratory disease table identifies hair dust from animal proteins as the exposure associated with furrier's lung.
Source: WHO/NIOSH: Hair dust and furrier's lung ↗Dust entry
Furrier's hair dust
Animal-hair and fur particulate generated during fur processing and handling.
Airborne form
dust
The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.
Health effects
hypersensitivity pneumonitisfurrier's lungcoughshortness of breathinterstitial lung disease concernreduced ventilatory capacity
Evidence
A CDC/NIOSH-indexed study of furriers reported respiratory symptoms, immunological responses to animal hairs, and reductions in ventilatory capacity over the work shift.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Immunological status and respiratory findings in furriers ↗Controls
- enclosed fur handling
- local exhaust ventilation
- dust suppression
- exposure monitoring
- appropriate respiratory protection