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My big concern with walnut shell allergies in an animal lab situation is
that someone, especially a child, who has the nut allergy wouldn't
expect to find themselves in contact with it by picking up an animal.
People with the allergy are very vigilent about avoiding them in food
and body products and places they expect that they might come into
contact with nuts and their oils.  When I was at the Exploratorium, we
took an exhibit off the floor for  because a person wouldn't know to
avoid the shells in this situation because the shells were not
immediately recognizable as nut shells. There was also not a sink nearby
for washing hands after contact.  My assumption in the animal lab is
that people are encourage to wash their hands after contact for sanitary
purposes.  My understanding is that nut allergies can be severe
(anaphalaxis), but are generally through consumption and not minor
contact.  It's defintely a case of weighing the risk.  The probability
of reaction is probably low, but the severity could be high if it did
happen.  

Corinn Brown
Program Coordinator
Community Resources for Science
1375 Ada Street
Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: 510.654.6433

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