Acronyms
ABPA
allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
AAAI
American Academy of Allergy and Immunology
ACAI
American College of Allergy and Immunology
ACGIH
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
AHU
air-handling unit
APC
antigen-presenting cell
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BAL
bronchoalveolar lavage
BRI
building-related illness
CBER
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
CTL
cytolytic T lymphocytes
ELISA
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FEF
forced expiratory flow
FEF25–75
forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 percent of forced vital capacity
FEV1
forced expiratory volume exhaled in 1 second
FVC
forced vital capacity
GM-CSF
granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor
HEPA filter
high-efficiency particulate arresting filter
HETES
hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
HMW
high molecular weight
HP
hypersensitivity pneumonitis
HVAC system
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
IFN
interferon
Ig
immunoglobulin
IgE
immunoglobulin E
IL-1
interleukin-1
IUIS
International Union of Immunologic Societies
kDa
kilodalton (molecular mass measure)
LMW
low molecular weight
LOAEL
lowest observed adverse effect level
LRSS
late respiratory systemic syndrome
MCS
multiple chemical sensitivity
MHC
major histocompatibility complex
NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NHLBI
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
NIAID
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
NIEHS
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIH
National Institutes of Health
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NOAEL
no observed adverse effect level
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OTA
Office of Technology Assessment
OTS
Office of Toxic Substances
PAF
platelet-activating factor
PDA
pulmonary disease anemia
PEL
permissible exposure limit
PG
prostaglandin
PMN
polymorphonuclear leukocyte
ppb
parts per billion
ppm
parts per million
RAST
radioallergosorbent test
SBS
sick (or tight) building syndrome
TLV
threshold limit value
TMA
trimellitic anhydride
TM-HSA
trimellitic anhydride conjugated with human serum albumin
UF
uncertainty factor
WHO
World Health Organization