How to buy & use a black light, UV light, Woods Lamp for building investigations of animals, odors, urine, blood, other contaminants

How to use a black light (ultraviolet lights, bulbs, flashlights) or UV light to track down the location urine and other animal indoor contaminants. Catalog of materials that fluoresce under black light (UV light) & sources of UV lights, supplies
- What materials glow under UV lighting& what is a "black light"?
- List of Materials & Products that "glow" or fluoresce under Ultra Violet Light - UV light, Black Light
- Definition of Fluorescence & UV lights or black lights - the Woods Lamp
- How to use UV light to track down the source(s) of animal odors, pet urine odors, or human urine odors from building interiors or exteriors
- Using a black light to find sources of indoor building smells and odors from dogs, cats, rodents, bats, unusual pets, and even people can be tricky; here are our suggestions.
ALLERGEN REDUCTION, PET - separate article
ANIMAL ODORS IN BUILDINGS - separate article
ART CONSERVATION - Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology - separate article
ARTWORK MOLD CONTAMINATION - separate article
BIODETERIORATION AGENT & STAIN CATALOG - separate article
BLACK LIGHT & UV LIGHT USES - separate article
BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning - separate article
Questions & Answers about how to use black light or UV light or a Woods lamp in building investigations
References

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How to use a black light or UV light: this article describes uses of UV light in building investigations. We describe the use of a black light, UV light to screen buildings for pet urine or urine from humans or other animals even where no stains are visible in or around buildings. We also use UV light to screen buildings for other body fluids, including blood (see BLOOD in ART WORKS, TESTING FOR). Small black lights are available from pet supply stores, art supply stores, and forensic and police equipment suppliers and are generally inexpensive.

Guide to Using Ultra Violet Light (UV light or "black light") for Forensic Building Investigations

One of the most effective uses of UV light in building investigations is the tracking down of odors & contaminants such as urine, urine stains, or odors & allergens from pets, rodents, or other animals, even human. But because a large number of materials will fluoresce under a black light, we need to give some thought to how to interpret what our UV light is actually revealing when we shine it on a building material or surface. Also see LIGHT, GUIDE to FORENSIC USE.

Watch out: While in our OPINION the ordinary use of UV flashlights and UV lamps for purposes of building or environmental inspection or security screening constitutes no unusual health risk, excessive or inappropriate exposure to high levels or protracted durations of ultraviolet light may be unsafe and possibly carcinogenic. A much cited study indicated that "The risk was not significantly or consistently raised for exposure to fluorescent lights at home or at work."[12]

Question: using a black light to track down iridescent powder substance in carpet

Can you be of help identifying a carpet (?) problem I am having in my apartment?

I discovered this as I was using a black light to look at some iridescent fishing lures the other evening. I noticed several yellowish glowing spots in the bedroom carpeting. This caused me to check the living room and dining area carpeting, where I found the same type yellowish glowing areas.

The areas are ‘dusty’ in appearance and appear in a variety of patterns. I further checked the baseboards, some less trafficked areas behind the bed and other furniture, and the furniture and counter surfaces and found the same yellowish areas. It quickly returns after cleanup. These areas do not appear in normal daylight, but do appear under a black light. Of course, the iridescence is greater at night when I can darken the apartment, but it can be seen under the black light during the day. It should also be noted that my feet and toe nails show the same yellowish glow. I walk around bare footed in my apartment.

Bathing removes the powdery substance from my feet and my physician says I have no mold or other infection in my feet. It should also be noted that when I purchased my black light over a year ago, for fun I checked out my apartment and carpeting for mold, pet urine, etc. and found none.

I will be checking with a local 'home' inspection type company next week regarding this.

Thanks for you help, - J.N. 07/21/2012

Reply: What materials glow under UV lighting & what is a "black light"?

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem concerning building contaminants or conditions. That said, there are a number of materials that will fluoresce under an ultraviolet UV or "black light", even clean white sheets appear to do so.

At above left we illustrate our darkroom test set-up for light source comparisons, in this case with a "blacklight" or UV ultraviolet light bulb (Woods lamp) installed in our test fixture using a 13W bulb produced by Feit Electric (photo at left).[5]

You may have spotted pet urine stains and pet urine-contaminated dust from carpeting, or insect fragments, or possibly some urea-containing materials.

The observation that many materials contain fluorescent molecules means that interpreting light or presumed stain patterns needs to be done with some sense of location, age, material, and context.

Definition of Fluorescence & UV lights or black lights - the Woods Lamp

We should explain the mechanism of fluorescence before listing things that fluoresce under black light or really UV light: According to a nice Q&A by the U. Illinois physics department, although infra-red and ultraviolet spectrums or frequencies are beyond what the human eye can see (some animals can see in these light frequency ranges),

Some materials have the special property that they absorb ultra-violet light and then re-emit the light at lower frequencies that our eyes can see. This is called "fluorescence. [3]

The actual wavelength of black lights or UV bulbs that operates in the UV range is 280-410nm usually narrowed to 368-371 nm wavelength light. Because UV flashlights or bulbs may also emit some energy in the wavelength range that is visible to humans, when you plug in a lamp that contains a "black light" bulb, it won't appear to emit zero "light" (that you can see), but it emits so little light in the range visible to humans that these bulbs are popularly called "black lights".

How to Use UV Lights for Surface Inspection

We have had a number of discussions with forensic investigators and building inspectors, have tested several UV light devices, and have experimented with the forensic use of UV light in our lab and in the field. And of course there are numerous expert sources for this topic.

In general inspectors find that you can use a good quality ultraviolet light source even in daylight (notice the use of small UV flashlights for document checks in airport security screening procedures). But for weak or dilute sources of fluorescent materials, such as very dilute fluorescein septic dye that might appear in a waterway up to a week after a septic loading and dye test, screening the target using ultraviolet lighting under low light or dark conditions is still more effective.

Catalog of Materials & Products that "glow" or fluoresce under Ultra Violet Light - UV light, Black Light

Here is a list of examples of fluorescing materials you might commonly see during an investigation inside or around a building. In parentheses our c=XX note indicates common colors you will see from each material when it is exposed to ultra violet light in a dark area. Use a UV flashlight, a "black light" bulb in a portable light fixture, or similar equipment to screen for these or other fluorescing substances in and around buildings.

Animals of various life forms such as some scorpions (emperor), jellyfish (colors vary by species)
Automotive antifreeze (c=yellow-green)
Beverages (some, not all) or drink spills, such as the quinine in tonic water (c=blue-white)
Body fluids, including blood (see BLOOD in ART WORKS, TESTING FOR) , semen, urine, both from humans and from other animals (c often yellow). For medical and forensic work we use luminol, an ultra-sensitive spray that fluoresces in the presence of blood.
Catsup
Currency: some paper money such as U.S. bills include a security strip
Decayed plant matter (rotten skins or fruits, e.g. banana)
Detergents, soaps, & bluing or softening agents & other cleaners (Mr. Clean, Irish Spring)
Honey
Olive oil
Party decorations designed to "glow in the dark" including face paint, hair spray, jewelry, socks, nail polish, treated colored paper, specialty balloons, specialty plastic cutlery, plates &c.
Plant or food material high in chlorophyll (c = blood red)
Salt (varies according to impurities)
Spices, some such as turmeric
Stamps, some postage

Stones, some minerals & gemstones
Talcum powder (common in bedrooms, bathrooms)
Toothpaste, brands containing tooth whitener
Urine from animals, including humans & pets (c=yellow)

Watch out: as our photo at left illustrates, a "faux-UV" light such as this lamp (photo at left) sold as a mosquito killing product produces so little ultraviolet light that it does not cause urine to fluoresce. The urine-soaked cotton held in tweezers in our photo was not able to be identified by a test using this particular light source.
Vaseline or similar petroleum jelly products
"Vaseline glass" (glass containing 2% uranium dioxide by weight as a yellow ie yellowish-green coloring agent) (c=green)
Vitamin A & B (c=yellow)

References: UV light or black light information, sources, suppliers, building odor & stain diagnosis

[1] About.com - Chemistry http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/f/blblacklight.htm

[2] Several light & forensic suppliers, e.g. Doje's (see our article on checking for blood in art work by Frida Kahlo)

[3] U. Illinois Dept of Physics, http://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1913

[4] Glow Paint Industries, an Australian company ( 07-5483-9181) http://www.glowinthedark.net.au/ claims to provide the world's longest list of products that glow in the dark, listing toys, party supplies, home improvement products, recreation & sport products, paints, and more.

[5] UV WATER DISINFECTION, PORTABLE discusses using a tiny portable UV light to attempt to disinfect drinking water and UV -ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT TREATMENT discusses larger capacity ultra violet light water disinfection systems selection, installation, use, maintenance, diagnosis.

[6] BLOOD in ART WORKS, TESTING FOR discusses a series of tests that when combined, give a very reliable indicator of the presence of human blood

[7] Color Temperature Bulb Comparisons gives detail about the wavelengths of different colors of light and the energy spectrum including the ultraviolet light bulb, also referred to as the Woods lamp.

[8] STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS and STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS discuss how to find, diagnose the cause, and remove various types of stains and markings on building interiors and exteriors, including pet urine stains.

[9] ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE is our home page that organizes all of our building odor & smell diagnosis & cure articles

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] About.com - Chemistry http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/f/blblacklight.htm
[2] Several light & forensic suppliers, e.g. Doje's (see our article on checking for blood in art work by Frida Kahlo at BLOOD in ART WORKS, TESTING FOR)
- Judy and Don Doje, Doje's Forensic Supplies, P.O. Box 500, Ocoee, FL 34761
[2a] Ulrik Runeberg, Conservador, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
[3] U. Illinois Dept of Physics, http://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1913
[4] Glow Paint Industries, an Australian company ( 07-5483-9181) http://www.glowinthedark.net.au/ claims to provide the world's longest list of products that glow in the dark, listing toys, party supplies, home improvement products, recreation & sport products, paints, and more.
[5] FEIT ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. 4901 Gregg Road Pico Rivera, CA 90660-2108, Tel: (800) 543-FEIT (3348), website: http://www.feit.com/ web search 5/14/2012
[6] "What You Need to Know about UL 1598, 3rd Edition", Intertek, Tel: 800-967-5352, USA, offices in the Americas, Germany, Sweden, Asia Pacific, Italy, UK. Website: www.intertek.com/lighting, web search 5/14/12 [Copy on file as UL-1598-White-Paper.pdf]
[7] "ANSI Coded Light Bulbs", Bulbstock.com, web search 5/14/12, original source: http://www.bulbstock.com/AnsiCodedLightBulbs.html
[8] ANSI American National Standards Institute, website: www.ansi.org [Don't expect to easily find anything you need to know at the ANSI website - Ed.] Example: [http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=2628]
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), on behalf of the American National Standard Lighting Group (ANSLG), has published ANSI/ANSLG C78.81-2010, Electric Lamps - Double-Capped Fluorescent Lamps - Dimensional and Electrical Characteristics. The recently published standard sets forth the physical and electrical characteristics of the principal types of fluorescent lamps intended for application on conventional line frequency circuits and electronic high-frequency circuits.
ANSI/ANSLG C78.81-2010 revises a 2005 edition and provides specifications for the lamp itself, the interactive features of the lamp, and the lamp ballast, including conventional systems relying on auxiliary support from external ballasts. In addition, three new fluorescent lamp data sheets are included: 25-Watt, 48-Inch T8, High-Frequency Fluorescent Lamp; 28-Watt, 48-Inch T8, High-Frequency Fluorescent Lamp; and 30-Watt, 48-Inch T8, High-Frequency Fluorescent Lamp. Only double-based lamps of the regular linear shape are included in the standard; single-based compact, circular, square, and U-shaped lamps are found in NEMA/ANSI C78.901:2005, For electric lamps single base fluorescent lamps - dimensional and electrical characteristics.
NEMA, an ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer, is a membership organization of manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, control, and end-use of electricity used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential applications.
[9] Wikipedia provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a " retrieved on" date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative.
Entry on color temperature, 5/14/2012, original source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature
Entry on lumen, 5/14/12, original source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(unit)
Entry on Wien's displacement law, 5/14/12, original source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien's_displacement_law
[10] "Notes on LEDs & Kelvin Color Scale", Autolumination, website: autolumination.com, web search 5/14/12, original source: http://autolumination.com/colors.htm [copy on file as LED_Notes_AutoIll.pdf]
[11] Light Booth, Type LBM-B", Mathis. Mathis is headquartered in Brasil (Website: http://www.mathis.com.br/, Email: mathis@mathis.com.br) with offices in Switzerland & the USA and other countries. Werner Mathis AG Rütisbergstrasse 3 CH-8156 Oberhasli/Zürich, Switzerland Telefon 41(0)44-852 5050 Telefax 41(0)44-850 6707 E-Mail info@mathisag.com Homepage www.mathisag.com, other worldwide locations: Werner Mathis U.S.A. Inc. 2260 HWY 49 N.E./P.O. Box 1626 Concord N.C. 28026, U.S.A. Phone: 1-704-786-6157 Fax: 1-704-786-6159 E-mail: usa@mathisag.com, Mathis (India) PVT. LTD. 203, Swastic plaza Pokhran Road No. 2, Thane 400 601, India Phone: +91 22 2585 4304 E-mail: india@mathisag.com, and Mathis (India) PVT. LTD. 203, Swastic plaza Pokhran Road No. 2, Thane 400 601, India Phone: +91 22 2585 4304 E-mail: india@mathisag.com.
Mathis provides a lighting boot for visual assessment and comparison of colors, use to compare color variations and metamerism on samples. The light booth provides four or five standardized light sources (daylight -D65, fluorescent -TL84, incandescent - A home light color temp. of 2,856, ultraviolet - UV to evaluate optical brightener or fluorescent dyes, and a 5th optional lamp providing D50-artificial daylight 5,000K, D75-artificial daylight 7,500K, H-horizon light 2,300K, CWF- store light, cool fluorescent 4,150K.) Web search 5/14/12, original source: http://www.mathis.com.br/arquivos/PDF/ing/LBM-ing.pdf, [copy on file as Mathis_Light_Booth_LBM-ing.pdf]
[12] A. J. Swerdlow, J. S. English, R. M. MacKie, C. J. O'Doherty, J. A. Hunter, J. Clark, and D. J. Hole, "Fluorescent lights, ultraviolet lamps, and risk of cutaneous melanoma.", BMJ v.297(6649); Sep 10, 1988 PMC1834365 (This article has been corrected. See BMJ. 1988 November 05; 297(6657): 1172.) -
Abstract: Exposure to solar radiation is increasingly being associated with a risk of cutaneous melanoma, and some risk has also been attributed to exposure to fluorescent lights. The risk of cutaneous melanoma associated with exposure to some sources of artificial ultraviolet radiation was examined in a case-control study in a Scottish population with fairly low exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation. The risk was not significantly or consistently raised for exposure to fluorescent lights at home or at work. The use of ultraviolet lamps and sunbeds, however, was associated with a significantly increased risk (relative risk = 2.9; 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 6.4), and the risk was significantly related to duration of use. The risk was particularly raised among people who have first used [corrected] ultraviolet beds or lamps more than [corrected] five years before presentation (relative risk = 9.1; 95% confidence intervals 2.0-40.6), in whom it was significantly related to cumulative hours of exposure. The risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet lamps and sunbeds remained significant after adjustment for other risk factors for melanoma.
[13] Hug, William F., "Inspection/Detection System with a light module for use in forensic applications", United States Patent No. 4,933,816, Jun 21 1990.
[14] Pounds, C. A., Grigg, R., and Mongkolaussavaratana, T., "The Use of 1,8- Diazafluoren-9-one (DFO) for the Fluorescent Detection of Latent Fingerprints on Paper. A Preliminary Evaluation," Journal of Forensic Sciences, JFSCA, Vol 35, No. 1, Jan. 1990, pp. 169-175.
- Abstract: The use of a new amino acid reagent 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO), which produces a highly fluorescent species with latent fingerprints on paper, is described. Spectral characteristics of the fluorescent fingerprint show excitation (kox approximately 470 nm) and emission (ko~ approximately 570 nm) maxima in the visible'part of the spectrum. Some printing inks fluoresce under these conditions and would therefore hinder fingerprint detection, but optical brighteners present in paper do not interfere. Fluorescent fingerprints visualized by DFO revealed more fingerprint detail than ninhydrin, the standard method for such surfaces.
retrieved 07/24/2012 original source http://library-resources.cqu.edu.au/JFS/PDF/vol_35/iss_1/JFS351900169.pdf [ copy on file as /Inspection Methodology/UV_Fingerprint_Detect.pdf ]
[16] Barsley, Robert E. D.D.S., J.D.; West, Michael H. D.D.S.; Fair, John A. M.S., R.P.S, "Forensic Photography: Ultraviolet Imaging of Wounds on Skin", The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, December 1990 - Volume 11 - Issue 4, Abstract: The use of ultraviolet light (UVL) to study and document patterned injuries on human skin has opened a new frontier for law enforcement. This article discusses the photographic techniques involved in reflective and fluorescent UVL. Documentation of skin wounds via still photography and dynamic video photographic techniques, which utilize various methods of UV illumination, are covered. Techniques important for courtroom presentation of evidence gathered from lacerations, contusions, abrasions, and bite marks are presented through case studies and controlled experiments. Such injuries are common sequelae in the crimes of child abuse, rape, and assault.
[17] Karen A. Santucci, MD*, David G. Nelson, MD*, Kemedy K. McQuillen, MD‡, Susan J. Duffy, MD*, James G. Linakis, PhD, MD*, "Wood's Lamp Utility in the Identification of Semen", Pediatrics Vol. 104 No. 6 December 1, 1999 pp. 1342 -1344 (doi: 10.1542/peds.104.6.1342), Abstract Background. The accurate detection of semen is critical to forensic, medical, and legal personnel. The Wood's lamp (WL) emits ultraviolet light (UVL) and has been identified as useful in rape evaluations because it is purported to cause semen to fluoresce. This study was intended to determine if semen can be distinguished from other products by WL analysis. Methods. Investigators reviewed the previous training and frequency of use of the WL by emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine physicians at 2 medical centers. The participants were asked to use a WL to distinguish between a semen sample (<6 hours old) and 13 commonly used products. Next, 29 semen samples were collected and evaluated under high-power microscopy and under UVL. Results. A total of 41 physicians participated in the study (68% male). The number of years practicing in an emergency setting spanned from .3 to 25 years with a mean of 7.1 years. A total of 51% of participants trained in emergency medicine, 23% in pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. A total of 22% reported formal training in the collection of forensic evidence. A total of 62% of the physicians believed they have identified semen in the past; one third felt they could differentiate semen from other products under UVL. None of the 41 physicians were able to differentiate semen from other products using a WL. Moreover, the semen samples used for the study did not fluoresce under WL analysis. None of the 29 semen samples fluoresced whether wet or dry. The medicaments most commonly mistaken for semen were A&D ointment (Cardinal Health, Inc, Dublin, OH), Surgilube (Division of Atlanta, Inc, Melville, NY), Barrier cream (Carrington Laboratories, Inc, Irving, TX), and bacitracin (Division of Atlanta, Inc, Melville, NY). Conclusions. Participating physicians were unable to distinguish between semen and other common products, using the WL. Although the WL has been purported to be a useful tool as a screening device for the detection of seminal stains, the investigators have found it to be unreliable. Semen, previously reported to fluoresce under WL analysis, does not appear to do so. The correct identification of semen may be complicated by the presence of previously existing ointments and creams, some of which may be iatrogenically introduced (ie, Surgilube).
[18] Dr. Bruce Budowle1,*, F. Samuel Baechtel, Catherine T. Comey, Alan M. Giusti, Leonard Klevan, "Simple protocols for typing forensic biological evidence: Chemiluminescent detection for human DNA quantitation and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RELP) analyses and manual typing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified polymorphisms", ELECTROPHORESIS Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 1559–1567, 1995,
Abstract Methods for identity testing are described that enable extraction of DNA from biological samples, determination of the quantity of human DNA, and genetic analyses of the materials using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing and/or amplified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) typing of PCR products. The salient features of the procedures are simplicity, manual typing, nonradioactive chemiluminescent assays or silver staining for detection, and low cost. Most application-oriented laboratories involved in forensic and/or paternity testing should be able to implement these procedures.
[19] C.Y. Wenemail address , J.K. Chen, "Multi-resolution image fusion technique and its application to forensic science", Forensic Science International Volume 140, Issue 2 , Pages 217-232, 10 March 2004,
Abstract Image fusion is a process of combining two or more images into an image. It can extract features from source images, and provide more information than one image can. Multi-resolution analysis plays an important role in image processing, it provides a technique to decompose an image and extract information from coarse to fine scales. In some practical forensic examinations (such as the cartridge image check), we cannot obtain all information from just one image; on the contrary, we need information from images with difference light sources (or light ways). In this paper, we apply an image fusion method based on multi-resolution analysis to forensic science. Synthetic and real images (such as images from closed-up photography and flash photography) are used to show the capability of the multi-resolution image fusion technique.
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Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
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Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
"IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
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