LATEX ALLERGENS IN TIRE DUST AND AIRBORNE PARTICLES

The prevalence and severity of latex allergy has increased dramaticall y in the last 15 years due to exposure to natural rubber products. Alt hough historically this health risk has been elevated in hospital pers onnel and patients, a recent survey has indicated a significant potent ial risk for the general population. To obtain a wide-spread source fo r latex exposure, we have considered tire debris. We have searched for the presence of later allergens in passenger car and truck tire tread , in debris deposited from the atmosphere near a freeway and in airbor ne particulate matter samples representative of the the entire year 19 93 at two sites in the Los Angeles basin (California). After extractio n of the samples with phosphate buffered saline, a modified-ELISA inhi bition assay was used to measure relative allergen potency and Western blot analyses were used to identify latex allergens. The inhibition s tudies with the human IgE latex assay revealed inhibition by the tire tread source samples and ambient freeway dust, as well as by control l atex sap and latex glove extracts. Levels of extractable latex allerge n per unit of protein extracted wee about two orders of magnitude lowe r for tire tread as compared to latex gloves. Western blot analyses us ing binding of human IgE from latex-sensitive patients showed a band a t 34-36 kDa in all tire and ambient samples. Long Beach and Los Angele s, California, air samples showed four additional bands between 50 and 135 kDa. Alternative Western blot analyses using rabbit IgG raised ag ainst later proteins showed a broad band at 30-50 kDa in all samples, with additional bands in the urban air samples similar ro the IgE resu lts. A latex cross-reactive material was identified in mountain cedar. In conclusion, the late allergens or latex cross-reactive material pr esent in sedimented and airborne particulate material, derived from ti re debris, and generated by heavy urban vehicle traffic could be impor tant factors in producing latex allergy and asthma symptoms associated with pollution particles.