Today’s New York Times ran a fascinating article about scientific researchers who become allergic to the subjects of their research;  in one case an evolutionary biologist who studied the periodical cicada who developed an allergy to the fungus which resides on the cicada.

“Whenever Dr. Martin touched it, his eyes itched and watered — symptoms that grew worse every time.  ‘When there were lots of the fungi, my eyes wanted to pop out of my head … I wanted to scratch my eyes out.’”

The Times states that “it turns out to be a little-discussed but fairly common occupational hazard of science.”

This article made me think about the concept of becoming allergic to your work — what if during your employment you became allergic to copy paper, or ink, or the air in the office?  There are lots of implications to this that come to mind … any thoughts?